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I didn't have any problems linking this to my phone (samsung galaxy s3 and the calls are very clear. No one has complained that it's difficult to hear me. They don't even know I'm using it. I like the fact that it will read my texts to me but I haven't been able to get it to let me use voice commands for such things as adding calendars items, texting, etc.... I find that discouraging and disappointing.
Update 6/11/2014: a few months ago I had to get a new phone because my other began malfunctioning. It was the same model but this bluetooth wouldn't work on my new phone. I think it's pretty expensive to only be able to use for such a short time and as I stated previously I was never able to use it for voice commands. Because of this I'm updating and changing my review to reflect my change of opinion with this product. I wouldn't purchase another. | 0 | negative | [
"I didn't have any problems linking this to my phone (samsung galaxy s3 and the calls are very clear.",
"No one has complained that it's difficult to hear me.",
"They don't even know I'm using it.",
"I like the fact that it will read my texts to me but I haven't been able to get it to let me use voice commands for such things as adding calendars items, texting, etc....",
"I find that discouraging and disappointing.",
"Update 6/11/2014: a few months ago I had to get a new phone because my other began malfunctioning.",
"It was the same model but this bluetooth wouldn't work on my new phone.",
"I think it's pretty expensive to only be able to use for such a short time and as I stated previously I was never able to use it for voice commands.",
"Because of this I'm updating and changing my review to reflect my change of opinion with this product.",
"I wouldn't purchase another."
]
|
This item is very misleading. The picture makes it seem like it is large enough to fit over the entire air hose. It also doesnt state in the description that this item will only fit the inner tube and will not fit over the entire air hose. The air hose is made up of an inner tube an an outer protective sheath. This item only fits the inner tube. It is not like other reusable cupplers that will fit over the inner tube and the protective sheath. This could be avoided by leaving exact dimensions, or by stating that this item only fits the inner tube and not over the protective sheath. but in the picture, it looks large enough. In real life, it is the size of my pinky finer.... Waste of time..... | 0 | negative | [
"This item is very misleading.",
"The picture makes it seem like it is large enough to fit over the entire air hose.",
"It also doesnt state in the description that this item will only fit the inner tube and will not fit over the entire air hose.",
"The air hose is made up of an inner tube an an outer protective sheath.",
"This item only fits the inner tube.",
"It is not like other reusable cupplers that will fit over the inner tube and the protective sheath.",
"This could be avoided by leaving exact dimensions, or by stating that this item only fits the inner tube and not over the protective sheath.",
"but in the picture, it looks large enough.",
"In real life, it is the size of my pinky finer....",
"Waste of time....",
"."
]
|
As a big hockey fan, I had high hopes for this game. Unfortunately, it turns out that EA Sports did not even try this time, this is one of the worst games they have put on the market. Here are the main reasons I doubt you will enjoy playing this game.
1. Your goalie is worthless. You can easily outshoot your opponents with something like 50-4 shots on goal, but then you better score at least five goals. If your opponents get 4 shots on goal, rest assured that your goalie will allow them to score at least three times. As the player, you have control of the five other players on the ice but the A.I. (Artifical Idiot) is taking care of the goalie. Here's a hint to the guys at EA Sports: When you see that an NHL goalie has a percentage of 85-95, that means that he STOPS 85-95% of the shots. NOT that he allows the opponents to score on 85-95% of their shots, as is the case in this game.
2. Winning is too easy. Despite the poor performance of your goalie, you will still win most games even on the hardest level after a little (very little) practice. The only real difference between the beginners level and the expert level seems to be that your goalie stops 50% of the shots at the first and 10% at the latter. Apart from that, you will still outperform the opponents on the ice. Winning game after game gets annoying quite quickly. Sometimes I was almost glad to loose, as it felt silly winning all the games. Mind you, you still has to score more goals than your opponents have shots on goal to win, but it's not that hard.
3. 2007?? The game is called NHL07, but NHL05 would be a better name. Now it's 2006, but the rosters are those of 2005. Yes, I know that they have to start making the game quite early in order to get it out on the market when the season starts. My tip of advice: wait a little longer with getting it out on the market, then you might actually have a game with rosters that isn't outdated and that is likely to increase the appeal of the game. This year, the situation is worse than ever. Many teams lack both their captain and their goalie, as well as many other players.
There are other minor errors, such as bugs or your team mates being unaware of this thing called off-side or the comments during games being exactly the same as last year (did they actually do any updates for this game...) but those aren't that important. What makes this game a total waste of your money is the fact that it is terribly outdated, that you will win all your games after just a little practice and that you will do that despite your goalie saving only one shot out of ten.
My final advice to EA Sports. Skip the thought of having a game next year and concentrate on NHL 09. At the moment, you are so far off real ice-hockey that your policy of making only minor adjustments won't do any longer. What is needed is a completely new game, something that resembles real hockey. | 0 | negative | [
"As a big hockey fan, I had high hopes for this game.",
"Unfortunately, it turns out that EA Sports did not even try this time, this is one of the worst games they have put on the market.",
"Here are the main reasons I doubt you will enjoy playing this game.",
"1.",
"Your goalie is worthless.",
"You can easily outshoot your opponents with something like 50-4 shots on goal, but then you better score at least five goals.",
"If your opponents get 4 shots on goal, rest assured that your goalie will allow them to score at least three times.",
"As the player, you have control of the five other players on the ice but the A.",
"I. (Artifical Idiot) is taking care of the goalie.",
"Here's a hint to the guys at EA Sports: When you see that an NHL goalie has a percentage of 85-95, that means that he STOPS 85-95% of the shots.",
"NOT that he allows the opponents to score on 85-95% of their shots, as is the case in this game.",
"2.",
"Winning is too easy.",
"Despite the poor performance of your goalie, you will still win most games even on the hardest level after a little (very little) practice.",
"The only real difference between the beginners level and the expert level seems to be that your goalie stops 50% of the shots at the first and 10% at the latter.",
"Apart from that, you will still outperform the opponents on the ice.",
"Winning game after game gets annoying quite quickly.",
"Sometimes I was almost glad to loose, as it felt silly winning all the games.",
"Mind you, you still has to score more goals than your opponents have shots on goal to win, but it's not that hard.",
"3.",
"2007??",
"The game is called NHL07, but NHL05 would be a better name.",
"Now it's 2006, but the rosters are those of 2005.",
"Yes, I know that they have to start making the game quite early in order to get it out on the market when the season starts.",
"My tip of advice: wait a little longer with getting it out on the market, then you might actually have a game with rosters that isn't outdated and that is likely to increase the appeal of the game.",
"This year, the situation is worse than ever.",
"Many teams lack both their captain and their goalie, as well as many other players.",
"There are other minor errors, such as bugs or your team mates being unaware of this thing called off-side or the comments during games being exactly the same as last year (did they actually do any updates for this game...",
") but those aren't that important.",
"What makes this game a total waste of your money is the fact that it is terribly outdated, that you will win all your games after just a little practice and that you will do that despite your goalie saving only one shot out of ten.",
"My final advice to EA Sports.",
"Skip the thought of having a game next year and concentrate on NHL 09.",
"At the moment, you are so far off real ice-hockey that your policy of making only minor adjustments won't do any longer.",
"What is needed is a completely new game, something that resembles real hockey."
]
|
In a few words: after trying out this product I was not persuaded that I actually needed it and I removed it from the computer on which it was installed. And here it is why.
- As a Windows 7 user I am perfectly happy with Microsoft Security Essentials, a free product that does not expire and therefore does not spam me with renewal reminders that I need to renew my subscription soon. To my knowledge, MSE works on Vista as well but I'm not sure about the XP.
- There is very little if anything that AVG offers that is not available 'for free' from other sources. For example, Windows 7 and Vista already come with their own firewall. All Web browsers come with some built-in Phishing protection and most public email providers have near-perfect Spam filters. Another worthy feature that AVG provides - the ability to flag 'dangerous' sites is either supported by browsers natively or can be enabled with free extensions.
- Some of the claims on the box (marketing) can be quite funny. For example, the writing on the back of the box states that AVG provides "Hassle-free security that won't slow you down**" But, when you go to the ** fine print it reads "All security software uses memory and processor power and can therefore result in slower system performance." Another claim is that AVG 'keeps your information safe' while shopping and banking. I expect that the banks would dispute that banking is less safe absent AVG as for the overall safety of 'my information', the leaks usually originate from hackers or other agents attacking/accessing or demanding 'my information' from the banks and AVG can't protect me from that.
Considering the above, I see no reason why I should pay for features and services already provided for free by my computer's operating system, browsers or email providers AND go through the hassle of annual renewals and slow down my computer in the process. If AVG offers anything 'extra' when compared to whatever I get from MSE/Chrome/Gmail, it must be very little because I didn't notice it while AVG was installed. The 2 stars rating (means "I don't like it" and in this case "I don't need it") is justified because, in my view, paying for an AVG one-year license can't be justified.
___________________________________________
SPECS
System requirements - minimum requirements with 'recommended' requirements within ()
- Pentium 1.5 (1.8) GHz
- RAM: 512 MB
- HDD space: 390 (510) MB
Compatible with:
- MS Windows XP
- MS Vista (32/64 bit)
- MS Windows 7 (32/64 bit) | 0 | negative | [
"In a few words: after trying out this product I was not persuaded that I actually needed it and I removed it from the computer on which it was installed.",
"And here it is why.",
"- As a Windows 7 user I am perfectly happy with Microsoft Security Essentials, a free product that does not expire and therefore does not spam me with renewal reminders that I need to renew my subscription soon.",
"To my knowledge, MSE works on Vista as well but I'm not sure about the XP.",
"- There is very little if anything that AVG offers that is not available 'for free' from other sources.",
"For example, Windows 7 and Vista already come with their own firewall.",
"All Web browsers come with some built-in Phishing protection and most public email providers have near-perfect Spam filters.",
"Another worthy feature that AVG provides - the ability to flag 'dangerous' sites is either supported by browsers natively or can be enabled with free extensions.",
"- Some of the claims on the box (marketing) can be quite funny.",
"For example, the writing on the back of the box states that AVG provides \"Hassle-free security that won't slow you down**\" But, when you go to the ** fine print it reads \"All security software uses memory and processor power and can therefore result in slower system performance.",
"\" Another claim is that AVG 'keeps your information safe' while shopping and banking.",
"I expect that the banks would dispute that banking is less safe absent AVG as for the overall safety of 'my information', the leaks usually originate from hackers or other agents attacking/accessing or demanding 'my information' from the banks and AVG can't protect me from that.",
"Considering the above, I see no reason why I should pay for features and services already provided for free by my computer's operating system, browsers or email providers AND go through the hassle of annual renewals and slow down my computer in the process.",
"If AVG offers anything 'extra' when compared to whatever I get from MSE/Chrome/Gmail, it must be very little because I didn't notice it while AVG was installed.",
"The 2 stars rating (means \"I don't like it\" and in this case \"I don't need it\") is justified because, in my view, paying for an AVG one-year license can't be justified.",
"___________________________________________\n\nSPECS\n\nSystem requirements - minimum requirements with 'recommended' requirements within ()\n\n- Pentium 1.",
"5 (1.",
"8) GHz\n- RAM: 512 MB\n- HDD space: 390 (510) MB\n\nCompatible with:\n\n- MS Windows XP\n- MS Vista (32/64 bit)\n- MS Windows 7 (32/64 bit)"
]
|
The good - it does cook eggs. Does a pretty good job as long as you attend it faithfully. Easy to load and unload. Good quality construction.
The bad - the buzzer isn't really loud enough, contrary to what others here say. They must live in very small apartments.
That leads us to -
The ugly - and the reason for this unfavorable review - is that it has what I consider to be a glaring design defect. The water heating plate does not automatically shut off after it has boiled dry as intended. If you should get distracted and not hear the buzzer, your eggs will sit there and continue to cook from the radiant heat. And cook. And cook. And turn to gross brown rubber. God knows what might happen to the plastic tray if you accidentally left it on for hours.
Never leave this thing unattended. Never let it go on for long after the buzzer starts buzzing. For sure NEVER leave the house (or even the room) with it on. Personally, I think it's not safe. It's not worth returning; I'm going to donate it to someone I don't like. | 0 | negative | [
"The good - it does cook eggs.",
"Does a pretty good job as long as you attend it faithfully.",
"Easy to load and unload.",
"Good quality construction.",
"The bad - the buzzer isn't really loud enough, contrary to what others here say.",
"They must live in very small apartments.",
"That leads us to -\n\nThe ugly - and the reason for this unfavorable review - is that it has what I consider to be a glaring design defect.",
"The water heating plate does not automatically shut off after it has boiled dry as intended.",
"If you should get distracted and not hear the buzzer, your eggs will sit there and continue to cook from the radiant heat.",
"And cook.",
"And cook.",
"And turn to gross brown rubber.",
"God knows what might happen to the plastic tray if you accidentally left it on for hours.",
"Never leave this thing unattended.",
"Never let it go on for long after the buzzer starts buzzing.",
"For sure NEVER leave the house (or even the room) with it on.",
"Personally, I think it's not safe.",
"It's not worth returning; I'm going to donate it to someone I don't like."
]
|
I read the short-story prequel and really liked it; I couldn't wait to start this series.
I actually listened to the audio for this book (reviewed on Audible), rather than read it. I also listened to the first book of the trilogy on audio and reviewed it on Amazon as well.
Initially, I was interested in what would happen and how the characters would develop. However, after the first book, my hopes that the writing style would mature did not happen. Throughout the second title in this trilogy, I continued to feel the characters would only converse in order for the author to have a way to explain concepts to the reader. And he seemed to be preaching New Age or Eastern philosophies, more than truly make it a part of his world-building. The characters continued to lack emotional depth and did not have very realistic motives or actions.
I finally realized that I was not looking forward to my commutes (when I listen to audio books) to see where the story lead; it felt more like something I had to complete because I started it. But, life's too short to listen or read bad books. There are hundreds I wish to immerse myself in. I stopped this about halfway through and moved on.
You may have better luck, but I can't really recommend it. | 0 | negative | [
"I read the short-story prequel and really liked it; I couldn't wait to start this series.",
"I actually listened to the audio for this book (reviewed on Audible), rather than read it.",
"I also listened to the first book of the trilogy on audio and reviewed it on Amazon as well.",
"Initially, I was interested in what would happen and how the characters would develop.",
"However, after the first book, my hopes that the writing style would mature did not happen.",
"Throughout the second title in this trilogy, I continued to feel the characters would only converse in order for the author to have a way to explain concepts to the reader.",
"And he seemed to be preaching New Age or Eastern philosophies, more than truly make it a part of his world-building.",
"The characters continued to lack emotional depth and did not have very realistic motives or actions.",
"I finally realized that I was not looking forward to my commutes (when I listen to audio books) to see where the story lead; it felt more like something I had to complete because I started it.",
"But, life's too short to listen or read bad books.",
"There are hundreds I wish to immerse myself in.",
"I stopped this about halfway through and moved on.",
"You may have better luck, but I can't really recommend it."
]
|
I'll start by stating that I was a big fan of the Madden games until I played Sega's NFL 2K5 on the PS2. After EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL games, I was rather peeved. Madden 2007 for the PS3 just enforces the reasons for my dismay.
Pros:
- NFL foolball
- Improved graphics from the previous generation of video game consoles (not by the leaps and bounds you'd expect though)
- That's about it
Cons:
- Graphics not up to the quality you'd expect from next gen technology.
- Controls feel 'off', especially on defense.
- change of the speed burst button from X to R2...this was very difficult to get used to.
- create-a-player was ruined. Yeah, it was kind of cheap to be able to build the perfect player. Now you have to participate in drills to set your created player's attributes. While fine in theory, the drills (think scounting combine...bench press, 40yd dash, etc) weren't well executed. I really noticed the 'off' feel of the controls while running through a tackling drill with a LB. It was the same setup as the Mini-Camp drill from previous games (which I normally ruled at), but I could barely make a tackle. The players just didn't feel responsive.
Bottom line, this game felt rushed. I had a feeling EA would let the quality of their NFL game slip now that there's no competition. I can't even recommend renting this game, let alone buying it. It really seems that all of EA Sports titles are slipping greatly in terms of quality. | 0 | negative | [
"I'll start by stating that I was a big fan of the Madden games until I played Sega's NFL 2K5 on the PS2.",
"After EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL games, I was rather peeved.",
"Madden 2007 for the PS3 just enforces the reasons for my dismay.",
"Pros:\n\n- NFL foolball\n\n- Improved graphics from the previous generation of video game consoles (not by the leaps and bounds you'd expect though)\n\n- That's about it\n\nCons:\n\n- Graphics not up to the quality you'd expect from next gen technology.",
"- Controls feel 'off', especially on defense.",
"- change of the speed burst button from X to R2...",
"this was very difficult to get used to.",
"- create-a-player was ruined.",
"Yeah, it was kind of cheap to be able to build the perfect player.",
"Now you have to participate in drills to set your created player's attributes.",
"While fine in theory, the drills (think scounting combine...",
"bench press, 40yd dash, etc) weren't well executed.",
"I really noticed the 'off' feel of the controls while running through a tackling drill with a LB.",
"It was the same setup as the Mini-Camp drill from previous games (which I normally ruled at), but I could barely make a tackle.",
"The players just didn't feel responsive.",
"Bottom line, this game felt rushed.",
"I had a feeling EA would let the quality of their NFL game slip now that there's no competition.",
"I can't even recommend renting this game, let alone buying it.",
"It really seems that all of EA Sports titles are slipping greatly in terms of quality."
]
|
The contrast is poor, and the screen background color is part of the problem - a dull grey, against which the purplish text strains the eyes. I fiddled with the contrast adjustment, and tried it with both the backlight on and off. I also expanded the text, but that allows too little of the text on the screen. The pronunciation of the "speaking" translator was sometimes good, sometimes poor. The control interface is clunky. Further, the French insert card worked, but the "speaking" part doesn't work with it. In my rating, I would have given the "portability" portion fairly high marks, but the other attributes were so poor, I did not want to encourage anyone else to take a chance on this.
It's a waste of money. I remembered my Android phone, downloaded a free foreign dictionary app, and find it very satisfactory. I also am purchasing a hard-copy book for more expanded definitions and word usage. | 0 | negative | [
"The contrast is poor, and the screen background color is part of the problem - a dull grey, against which the purplish text strains the eyes.",
"I fiddled with the contrast adjustment, and tried it with both the backlight on and off.",
"I also expanded the text, but that allows too little of the text on the screen.",
"The pronunciation of the \"speaking\" translator was sometimes good, sometimes poor.",
"The control interface is clunky.",
"Further, the French insert card worked, but the \"speaking\" part doesn't work with it.",
"In my rating, I would have given the \"portability\" portion fairly high marks, but the other attributes were so poor, I did not want to encourage anyone else to take a chance on this.",
"It's a waste of money.",
"I remembered my Android phone, downloaded a free foreign dictionary app, and find it very satisfactory.",
"I also am purchasing a hard-copy book for more expanded definitions and word usage."
]
|
Given the price of these I expected great things from them. They are short thin rods and small enough to get inside even a 9mm case. But, they are so heavy compared to the brass case that they go to the bottom in my tumbler and the brass "floats" on top. Nothing go cleaned very well at all. The more stainless material I added, the quicker I realized the process was going nowhere. Not wanting to waste a bunch on money I took a few handfuls and added it to the walnut shell media. There it made a difference. Brass came out shinier and showed no signs of damage. They will be a bit difficult to separate from the walnut media once it needs replacing but be a major project. A vacuum held far enough away to not suck up the stainless rods will still grab the small walnut shell pieces. Running the tumbler to get all the rods to the bottom will make things even easier. | 0 | negative | [
"Given the price of these I expected great things from them.",
"They are short thin rods and small enough to get inside even a 9mm case.",
"But, they are so heavy compared to the brass case that they go to the bottom in my tumbler and the brass \"floats\" on top.",
"Nothing go cleaned very well at all.",
"The more stainless material I added, the quicker I realized the process was going nowhere.",
"Not wanting to waste a bunch on money I took a few handfuls and added it to the walnut shell media.",
"There it made a difference.",
"Brass came out shinier and showed no signs of damage.",
"They will be a bit difficult to separate from the walnut media once it needs replacing but be a major project.",
"A vacuum held far enough away to not suck up the stainless rods will still grab the small walnut shell pieces.",
"Running the tumbler to get all the rods to the bottom will make things even easier."
]
|
Oh Look... Here's something from that Zionist machine Al Jazeera. Could this be Jordan refusing to tighten laws protecting women from Honour Killing? <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8B1CC7F4-AA09-4D35-99BD-3C556A03877A.htm">english.aljazeera.ne...</a> Surely this won't help get the message out to Jordanian men... Oh No... the Day after surely not <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0CCF0D96-C808-4B00-9BBD-AA65BBFD1BC7.htm">english.aljazeera.ne...</a> And what's this... Could this be the UK locking a father away for LIFE for enacting an Honour Killing? <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6276E1A1-141C-4847-A975-CE47154C9AE1.htm">english.aljazeera.ne...</a> Do you see a reason to not accept a reasonable critique in this issue? Cause I bloody don't, so stop acting like a Woman supressor lest they cross their legs against you for life!! ZERO TOLLERANCE!!! | 0 | negative | [
"Oh Look...",
"Here's something from that Zionist machine Al Jazeera.",
"Could this be Jordan refusing to tighten laws protecting women from Honour Killing?",
"<a href=\"http://english.",
"aljazeera.",
"net/NR/exeres/8B1CC7F4-AA09-4D35-99BD-3C556A03877A.",
"htm\">english.",
"aljazeera.",
"ne...",
"</a> Surely this won't help get the message out to Jordanian men...",
"Oh No...",
"the Day after surely not <a href=\"http://english.",
"aljazeera.",
"net/NR/exeres/0CCF0D96-C808-4B00-9BBD-AA65BBFD1BC7.",
"htm\">english.",
"aljazeera.",
"ne...",
"</a> And what's this...",
"Could this be the UK locking a father away for LIFE for enacting an Honour Killing?",
"<a href=\"http://english.",
"aljazeera.",
"net/NR/exeres/6276E1A1-141C-4847-A975-CE47154C9AE1.",
"htm\">english.",
"aljazeera.",
"ne...",
"</a> Do you see a reason to not accept a reasonable critique in this issue?",
"Cause I bloody don't, so stop acting like a Woman supressor lest they cross their legs against you for life!!",
"ZERO TOLLERANCE!!!"
]
|
Junk, absolute junk. Three cables, all feel like they were made with the cheapest plastic. Out of the 3, only 2 worked, and by worked, I mean they didn’t. They are constantly connecting and disconnecting from my phone. Do not buy these Customer service is a joke as well. Emailed them, they said sorry for your issues, you must have got defective item. Have a nice day..... ummm, ok. I’m returning these.. don’t buy | 0 | negative | [
"Junk, absolute junk.",
"Three cables, all feel like they were made with the cheapest plastic.",
"Out of the 3, only 2 worked, and by worked, I mean they didn’t.",
"They are constantly connecting and disconnecting from my phone.",
"Do not buy these Customer service is a joke as well.",
"Emailed them, they said sorry for your issues, you must have got defective item.",
"Have a nice day....",
".",
"ummm, ok.",
"I’m returning these..",
"don’t buy"
]
|
I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said, except that I concur.
The gameplay is extremely boring, especially in the "town missions". You basically run around and interact with people and do stupid little errands. In the regular "action" zones, it's somewhat reminiscent of later-gen Sonic games but the problem here is the camera never helps you. I find myself constantly having to re-adjust my view after even just taking a few steps.
Also, there's little to no consistency or progression with difficulty. Meaning, some of the earlier missions will be really easy and some will take many retries. The same applies to all the later missions.
Sonic does go fast in parts but nowhere near the blazing speed we're used to seeing as Sonic fans. Also, what's with the alternate character storylines? Do you really want to play through Shadow and Silver's missions after completing the Sonic storyline? Just so you know, they're even more boring and annoying than Sonic's.
It's hard to believe Sega actually made this game. After playing through the first half, I remember checking my box to see if it was put out by another company. They have really lost their touch, at least with Sonic. I hope that if they do decide to make another Sonic game, they rethink their whole strategy because this is not a fond memory of the blue hedgehog. | 0 | negative | [
"I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said, except that I concur.",
"The gameplay is extremely boring, especially in the \"town missions\".",
"You basically run around and interact with people and do stupid little errands.",
"In the regular \"action\" zones, it's somewhat reminiscent of later-gen Sonic games but the problem here is the camera never helps you.",
"I find myself constantly having to re-adjust my view after even just taking a few steps.",
"Also, there's little to no consistency or progression with difficulty.",
"Meaning, some of the earlier missions will be really easy and some will take many retries.",
"The same applies to all the later missions.",
"Sonic does go fast in parts but nowhere near the blazing speed we're used to seeing as Sonic fans.",
"Also, what's with the alternate character storylines?",
"Do you really want to play through Shadow and Silver's missions after completing the Sonic storyline?",
"Just so you know, they're even more boring and annoying than Sonic's.",
"It's hard to believe Sega actually made this game.",
"After playing through the first half, I remember checking my box to see if it was put out by another company.",
"They have really lost their touch, at least with Sonic.",
"I hope that if they do decide to make another Sonic game, they rethink their whole strategy because this is not a fond memory of the blue hedgehog."
]
|
Dead rising finds you in the shoes of a reporter investigating a quarantined town in Colorado. You have little say in the opening part of the game: your character just kind of hops through cut-scenes into the first part. That lost a star immediately: I don't care for games that use convenience to move the story rather than player choice.
The point of the game, at first, is to survive a specific amount of time and collect evidence. When you collect sufficient evidence, your character will start to put the pieces together and learn what is going on in the town. Obviously, zombies are involved.
The game takes place in 3rd person and the controls are easy enough. When you're fighting hordes of zombies, it is a button-masher style of game. Switching weapons and checking your status is easy and straightforward. The game scores points with intuitive controls.
The story and its unfolding drama feel a bit weak and ad-hoc. It was hard to get involved. I felt led by the nose in this linear drama. The story seemed sterile, uninteresting, and just plain boring. The characters never impressed.
The graphics are great--sometimes too great. The gore is excessive in some plays, but I guess it's appropriate given that you're mutilating zombies with an array of insane weapons. The sounds are gut-wrenching and create a nice, horror-fest atmosphere.
The game is fun to an extent. I was expecting a stronger, more involving storyline, and was disappointed to find it very linear and uninteresting. Story points are revealed, but you have no idea what they mean until much later--I hate that concept of showing you something you can't possibly understand until the end. It's a game, not an indie film.
There's a ridiculous amount of carnage, which should appeal to gamers who enjoy visceral action. Anything can be used as a weapon: plants, skateboards, chainsaws, guns, lumber, golf clubs, etc. The mall that serves as the game's setting is alive and full of shops to explore.
All in all, this game is a decent buy for the price but don't expect too much. It's a slug-fest that will make you smile, but a story that will make you frown. | 0 | negative | [
"Dead rising finds you in the shoes of a reporter investigating a quarantined town in Colorado.",
"You have little say in the opening part of the game: your character just kind of hops through cut-scenes into the first part.",
"That lost a star immediately: I don't care for games that use convenience to move the story rather than player choice.",
"The point of the game, at first, is to survive a specific amount of time and collect evidence.",
"When you collect sufficient evidence, your character will start to put the pieces together and learn what is going on in the town.",
"Obviously, zombies are involved.",
"The game takes place in 3rd person and the controls are easy enough.",
"When you're fighting hordes of zombies, it is a button-masher style of game.",
"Switching weapons and checking your status is easy and straightforward.",
"The game scores points with intuitive controls.",
"The story and its unfolding drama feel a bit weak and ad-hoc.",
"It was hard to get involved.",
"I felt led by the nose in this linear drama.",
"The story seemed sterile, uninteresting, and just plain boring.",
"The characters never impressed.",
"The graphics are great--sometimes too great.",
"The gore is excessive in some plays, but I guess it's appropriate given that you're mutilating zombies with an array of insane weapons.",
"The sounds are gut-wrenching and create a nice, horror-fest atmosphere.",
"The game is fun to an extent.",
"I was expecting a stronger, more involving storyline, and was disappointed to find it very linear and uninteresting.",
"Story points are revealed, but you have no idea what they mean until much later--I hate that concept of showing you something you can't possibly understand until the end.",
"It's a game, not an indie film.",
"There's a ridiculous amount of carnage, which should appeal to gamers who enjoy visceral action.",
"Anything can be used as a weapon: plants, skateboards, chainsaws, guns, lumber, golf clubs, etc.",
"The mall that serves as the game's setting is alive and full of shops to explore.",
"All in all, this game is a decent buy for the price but don't expect too much.",
"It's a slug-fest that will make you smile, but a story that will make you frown."
]
|
I've been using DYMO Stamps since they came out with their first printer. Before that, I used Stamps.com. That means I've been using their stamps for at least 10-15 years. Well, guess what, they are now requiring you to buy labels from them or you can't print stamps. I wouldn't mind buying labels from them, but their price is considerably higher than the independents: 1 cent vs 8 cents per label. That's robbery!!!!! Add 8 cents to the already high postage, you might as well not send hard mail!.
Keurig tried this with their new coffee makers and HP used to do this with their printers and they discovered innovative people would find a work around solution, or customers would simply dump them for other options. This is precisely why I went from Stamps.com to Dymo...and now, I guess I need to look around for other options now.
I certainly wouldn't mind buying labels from Dymo, but once they monopolize the market, they can charge whatever they want. 1 cent to 8 cents per label....that's exactly what they're doing. | 0 | negative | [
"I've been using DYMO Stamps since they came out with their first printer.",
"Before that, I used Stamps.",
"com.",
"That means I've been using their stamps for at least 10-15 years.",
"Well, guess what, they are now requiring you to buy labels from them or you can't print stamps.",
"I wouldn't mind buying labels from them, but their price is considerably higher than the independents: 1 cent vs 8 cents per label.",
"That's robbery!!!!",
"!",
"Add 8 cents to the already high postage, you might as well not send hard mail!.",
"Keurig tried this with their new coffee makers and HP used to do this with their printers and they discovered innovative people would find a work around solution, or customers would simply dump them for other options.",
"This is precisely why I went from Stamps.",
"com to Dymo...",
"and now, I guess I need to look around for other options now.",
"I certainly wouldn't mind buying labels from Dymo, but once they monopolize the market, they can charge whatever they want.",
"1 cent to 8 cents per label....",
"that's exactly what they're doing."
]
|
I was attracted to this page by the price tag on a CD recorder. After reading many of the comments of the people on here, I am amazed that CD recorders are so popular. Aside from the complaints about the many things that go wrong with this model, I'm surprised about the comments that show up about how CD recording works even if it works right. For example, one person said, "I hit the finalize button. It normally takes a little over two minutes to complete this function." Amazing! (Negatively so.) Or another, "There are a few steps that if you mess up on any one of them, you accidentally record on the wrong tracks." I recommend to those of you who like to make mixes of your favorite songs off of CD, record, and/or tape, to get a Minidisc recorder! I have one by Sony--Amazon.com sells the [price] model (MDSJE-440); I have a similar model. I LOVE THIS THING! Recording is a piece of cake. And screw-ups are no problem. Tracks can be moved, divided, combined, and erased...at ANY time! During your recording session, days or weeks later, and all with great ease. And it's digital quality recording (direct digital from CDs). So don't mess with wasted CD-Rs that one mistake and they're toast, or even the inconveniences of CD-RW recording; for only [price] you can get a quality Sony Minidisc recorder, and Minidiscs are pretty cheap too. PLUS you can record up to FIVE HOURS on a Minidisc--try doing that on a CD-R! | 0 | negative | [
"I was attracted to this page by the price tag on a CD recorder.",
"After reading many of the comments of the people on here, I am amazed that CD recorders are so popular.",
"Aside from the complaints about the many things that go wrong with this model, I'm surprised about the comments that show up about how CD recording works even if it works right.",
"For example, one person said, \"I hit the finalize button.",
"It normally takes a little over two minutes to complete this function.",
"\" Amazing!",
"(Negatively so.",
") Or another, \"There are a few steps that if you mess up on any one of them, you accidentally record on the wrong tracks.",
"\" I recommend to those of you who like to make mixes of your favorite songs off of CD, record, and/or tape, to get a Minidisc recorder!",
"I have one by Sony--Amazon.",
"com sells the [price] model (MDSJE-440); I have a similar model.",
"I LOVE THIS THING!",
"Recording is a piece of cake.",
"And screw-ups are no problem.",
"Tracks can be moved, divided, combined, and erased...",
"at ANY time!",
"During your recording session, days or weeks later, and all with great ease.",
"And it's digital quality recording (direct digital from CDs).",
"So don't mess with wasted CD-Rs that one mistake and they're toast, or even the inconveniences of CD-RW recording; for only [price] you can get a quality Sony Minidisc recorder, and Minidiscs are pretty cheap too.",
"PLUS you can record up to FIVE HOURS on a Minidisc--try doing that on a CD-R!"
]
|
I have tried many moisturizers. In addition, I don't know how this one differs from the ones in a doctor's office. Yet, if it is the same than I would be upset. The smell is a little off-putting. Not that it is a strong smell. I thought because this cream was thick that it would not go on smooth but it did. What I was very disappointed in this moisturizer is that it did not give me the hydration that I wanted. It felt like halfway through the day if at that I needed to put more on as my face was dry. In fact, I used this after recovering from a cold and a sore nose that had been peeling due to lots of blowing. It did not sting, so that was good but my nose was still dry. I went and put a different moisturizer on top of this one to give me the hydration I was looking for. | 0 | negative | [
"I have tried many moisturizers.",
"In addition, I don't know how this one differs from the ones in a doctor's office.",
"Yet, if it is the same than I would be upset.",
"The smell is a little off-putting.",
"Not that it is a strong smell.",
"I thought because this cream was thick that it would not go on smooth but it did.",
"What I was very disappointed in this moisturizer is that it did not give me the hydration that I wanted.",
"It felt like halfway through the day if at that I needed to put more on as my face was dry.",
"In fact, I used this after recovering from a cold and a sore nose that had been peeling due to lots of blowing.",
"It did not sting, so that was good but my nose was still dry.",
"I went and put a different moisturizer on top of this one to give me the hydration I was looking for."
]
|
I would rate this 0 if that choice was available. I tried this product this summer when they offered full-cost (sans tax) rebate. My 9 year old cat, who's NEVER had a problem urinating in his litter box suddenly stopped using it (and used my kitchen cabinet instead!). Luckily, I caught him the 2nd day. I was so ?$#* I called World's Worst Cat Litter 800 number to complain. The CS rep told me I should have started using their product by slowly adding small amounts to my old litter.
Gee, I must have missed reading that on the bag.
Instead of donating the litter to the local shelter I threw it out. Free isn't worth the smell of cat urine!
BTW: the World's Worst Litter isn't cheap. I've had no problems using the cheap litter from the local big-box store.
Buyer Beware! | 0 | negative | [
"I would rate this 0 if that choice was available.",
"I tried this product this summer when they offered full-cost (sans tax) rebate.",
"My 9 year old cat, who's NEVER had a problem urinating in his litter box suddenly stopped using it (and used my kitchen cabinet instead!",
").",
"Luckily, I caught him the 2nd day.",
"I was so?",
"$#* I called World's Worst Cat Litter 800 number to complain.",
"The CS rep told me I should have started using their product by slowly adding small amounts to my old litter.",
"Gee, I must have missed reading that on the bag.",
"Instead of donating the litter to the local shelter I threw it out.",
"Free isn't worth the smell of cat urine!",
"BTW: the World's Worst Litter isn't cheap.",
"I've had no problems using the cheap litter from the local big-box store.",
"Buyer Beware!"
]
|
Realistically, I give this 2.5 stars.
Here's my problem with this second installment: Editing.
The story line is fine. Though I found myself skimming over everything that included Van and her sudden need for Suede because I found it ridiculous and Van annoying and ignorant. She was a doormat. Period. The shift in Jeff I get and I liked the growth in Roman. I adored Gigi. BUT, that said, a good pre-reading and proofing team should have pointed out the numerous errors. One, Dare mentions his time with Jeff and Roman and the "sex". I remember thinking "Wait! We missed his first time!?" Only to find out later they NEVER had actual intercourse. Which also leads me to my complaint that how does Dare - who never really showed an interest in men - suddenly decide he's gay? Or is he? Cause he's apparently still on the fence weeks/months later. Second, the Van/Roman storyline was predictable. I'll leave it at that. Third, there are multiple times that the authors wrote 'Dare' instead of 'Roman' when Roman was in Minnesota. that's such an easy fix, there really is no excuse for it.
These are only a few of the issues I had with this book and why I won't be buying book 3. No matter how intriguing I may find Roman, I can't deal with Van and the inevitable Jeff jealousies again. Plus, I'm pretty sure I can see what's going to happen in book 3, so there's little room for surprise. And I just can't deal with more 3rd person / 1st person intermingled writing. It's hard to understand and I'm not a fan of this format.
Overall, it's a decent end to the cliff hanger the author forced us into in book 1. And I'll leave it at that. | 0 | negative | [
"Realistically, I give this 2.",
"5 stars.",
"Here's my problem with this second installment: Editing.",
"The story line is fine.",
"Though I found myself skimming over everything that included Van and her sudden need for Suede because I found it ridiculous and Van annoying and ignorant.",
"She was a doormat.",
"Period.",
"The shift in Jeff I get and I liked the growth in Roman.",
"I adored Gigi.",
"BUT, that said, a good pre-reading and proofing team should have pointed out the numerous errors.",
"One, Dare mentions his time with Jeff and Roman and the \"sex\".",
"I remember thinking \"Wait!",
"We missed his first time!?",
"\" Only to find out later they NEVER had actual intercourse.",
"Which also leads me to my complaint that how does Dare - who never really showed an interest in men - suddenly decide he's gay?",
"Or is he?",
"Cause he's apparently still on the fence weeks/months later.",
"Second, the Van/Roman storyline was predictable.",
"I'll leave it at that.",
"Third, there are multiple times that the authors wrote 'Dare' instead of 'Roman' when Roman was in Minnesota.",
"that's such an easy fix, there really is no excuse for it.",
"These are only a few of the issues I had with this book and why I won't be buying book 3.",
"No matter how intriguing I may find Roman, I can't deal with Van and the inevitable Jeff jealousies again.",
"Plus, I'm pretty sure I can see what's going to happen in book 3, so there's little room for surprise.",
"And I just can't deal with more 3rd person / 1st person intermingled writing.",
"It's hard to understand and I'm not a fan of this format.",
"Overall, it's a decent end to the cliff hanger the author forced us into in book 1.",
"And I'll leave it at that."
]
|
Purchasing Gladius, I was under the impression I'd be getting an RPG based on Ancient Rome, dealing with building a Gladiator school and the likes.
First off, despite being called "Gladius" and dealing with Gladiators, it was completely ahistorical, with the brilliantly named "Empire of Imperia" apparently taking the place of Rome, and some generically "Naundark" or whatever named Barbarian kingdom perhaps taking the place of some Germanic tribes.
Aside from a ridiculously stupid storyline which takes liberally from every random generic magical fantasy story having to do with constellations of the bear's womb, the magic of the Gods, enchanted items and broad sweeping remarks by old people about "prophecies" and "destiny" and all that boring noise, the sentiments of Ursula's (one of the main character) brother mirrors much of the players' sentiments as well: "More talk... when are we going to get to some action?"
If you like Pokemon games for Gameboy, you'd likely love the battle system here. It consists of taking very slow-to-pass turns walking on paths which render the field into a grid with big squares and limited movement. Attacks consist of selecting the enemy, hitting "Strike", then playing a mini variant of something like "Mario Golf" with trying to hit a little bar right when it lands on red for a critical strike, or settling for the far larger part of the bar marked yellow. This goes back and forth until someone wins.
This makes up the action combat of the game, while the background economics are a complex sort of deal that is difficult to keep track of in itself. I had no idea I had only hired a gladiator for one battle, and couldn't even check on her until I started a battle to select my fighters.
This was a debacle of a game, and absolutely no fun at all unless you're willing to pay for a 3D highly stylized version of Pokemon... | 0 | negative | [
"Purchasing Gladius, I was under the impression I'd be getting an RPG based on Ancient Rome, dealing with building a Gladiator school and the likes.",
"First off, despite being called \"Gladius\" and dealing with Gladiators, it was completely ahistorical, with the brilliantly named \"Empire of Imperia\" apparently taking the place of Rome, and some generically \"Naundark\" or whatever named Barbarian kingdom perhaps taking the place of some Germanic tribes.",
"Aside from a ridiculously stupid storyline which takes liberally from every random generic magical fantasy story having to do with constellations of the bear's womb, the magic of the Gods, enchanted items and broad sweeping remarks by old people about \"prophecies\" and \"destiny\" and all that boring noise, the sentiments of Ursula's (one of the main character) brother mirrors much of the players' sentiments as well: \"More talk...",
"when are we going to get to some action?",
"\"\n\nIf you like Pokemon games for Gameboy, you'd likely love the battle system here.",
"It consists of taking very slow-to-pass turns walking on paths which render the field into a grid with big squares and limited movement.",
"Attacks consist of selecting the enemy, hitting \"Strike\", then playing a mini variant of something like \"Mario Golf\" with trying to hit a little bar right when it lands on red for a critical strike, or settling for the far larger part of the bar marked yellow.",
"This goes back and forth until someone wins.",
"This makes up the action combat of the game, while the background economics are a complex sort of deal that is difficult to keep track of in itself.",
"I had no idea I had only hired a gladiator for one battle, and couldn't even check on her until I started a battle to select my fighters.",
"This was a debacle of a game, and absolutely no fun at all unless you're willing to pay for a 3D highly stylized version of Pokemon..."
]
|
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Cute contemporary, but I had a really hard time liking any of the characters in the book.
Opening Sentence: I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer ending.
The Review:
This was a cute contemporary read but I wouldn't say that I loved it, I just liked it. Jordan is a senior in high school, and she has worked her whole life to prove that she is just as good as any boy at playing quarterback for the football team. This year she is the starting quarterback for her high school team and her dream is to play for Alabama. Her brother is the quarterback for Tennessee and plans to go pro and her father is a famous NFL quarterback so it is in Jordan's blood to be good. Unfortunately, she was born a girl and people have a hard time looking past that. She has earned the respect from her coach and teammates but can she find respect on a college level. Jordan grew up as just one of the guys and she doesn't really have any friends that are girls and she has never even kissed a guy before. She is beautiful and talented, but she felt that she would lose respect if she dated any of her teammates. She was never really interested in dating any of them until Ty Green moves to her school. It's the beginning of senior year and the gorgeous Ty Green moves in and joins the team as a backup quarterback. He came from a town in Texas and he is pretty talented, and Jordan is worried she might lose her spot on the team and possibly her heart to this hot guy!
So Jordan is our main character in this book and I have got to be honest she drove me nuts. I felt that she was pretty immature at times and she really rushed into things without thinking about them first. I had a really hard time connecting to her and this was probably my biggest issue with this book. She does have some great qualities as well but I felt her bad ones outshone just a little too much. She is totally committed to football, but she is always so worried that people won't accept her she doesn't see how great the rest of her life is. By the end of the book she does redeem herself on that account but I felt it just took a little long.
The love interests in this book are both super cute and the romance is pretty good, but there is defiantly some insta-love. I felt that the relationships in this book could have been a lot more developed. Sure Ty is great looking but really -- Jordan just jumps in head first into a relationship when she doesn't really even know the guy. Then there is her best friend Henry, who has basically been in love with her forever but she was totally clueless about it. I actually really like Henry. He is sweet, cute and someone that I would have dated in high school.
Overall, I would say that this book was just ok for me. The story was fun to read and it flowed really well, but not being able to connect with Jordan just made it hard to love. I am going to be honest, I have read many reviews for this book and I am in the minority in not loving this book. Almost every review I read said that they loved it so if the story sounds intriguing to you I would still defiantly say to give it a try because you may love this book like so many other people did. I did enjoy Kenneally's writing so I may try some of her other books in the future.
FTC Advisory: Sourcebooks Fire provided me with a copy of Catching Jordan. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. | 0 | negative | [
"Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales\n\nQuick & Dirty: Cute contemporary, but I had a really hard time liking any of the characters in the book.",
"Opening Sentence: I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer ending.",
"The Review:\n\nThis was a cute contemporary read but I wouldn't say that I loved it, I just liked it.",
"Jordan is a senior in high school, and she has worked her whole life to prove that she is just as good as any boy at playing quarterback for the football team.",
"This year she is the starting quarterback for her high school team and her dream is to play for Alabama.",
"Her brother is the quarterback for Tennessee and plans to go pro and her father is a famous NFL quarterback so it is in Jordan's blood to be good.",
"Unfortunately, she was born a girl and people have a hard time looking past that.",
"She has earned the respect from her coach and teammates but can she find respect on a college level.",
"Jordan grew up as just one of the guys and she doesn't really have any friends that are girls and she has never even kissed a guy before.",
"She is beautiful and talented, but she felt that she would lose respect if she dated any of her teammates.",
"She was never really interested in dating any of them until Ty Green moves to her school.",
"It's the beginning of senior year and the gorgeous Ty Green moves in and joins the team as a backup quarterback.",
"He came from a town in Texas and he is pretty talented, and Jordan is worried she might lose her spot on the team and possibly her heart to this hot guy!",
"So Jordan is our main character in this book and I have got to be honest she drove me nuts.",
"I felt that she was pretty immature at times and she really rushed into things without thinking about them first.",
"I had a really hard time connecting to her and this was probably my biggest issue with this book.",
"She does have some great qualities as well but I felt her bad ones outshone just a little too much.",
"She is totally committed to football, but she is always so worried that people won't accept her she doesn't see how great the rest of her life is.",
"By the end of the book she does redeem herself on that account but I felt it just took a little long.",
"The love interests in this book are both super cute and the romance is pretty good, but there is defiantly some insta-love.",
"I felt that the relationships in this book could have been a lot more developed.",
"Sure Ty is great looking but really -- Jordan just jumps in head first into a relationship when she doesn't really even know the guy.",
"Then there is her best friend Henry, who has basically been in love with her forever but she was totally clueless about it.",
"I actually really like Henry.",
"He is sweet, cute and someone that I would have dated in high school.",
"Overall, I would say that this book was just ok for me.",
"The story was fun to read and it flowed really well, but not being able to connect with Jordan just made it hard to love.",
"I am going to be honest, I have read many reviews for this book and I am in the minority in not loving this book.",
"Almost every review I read said that they loved it so if the story sounds intriguing to you I would still defiantly say to give it a try because you may love this book like so many other people did.",
"I did enjoy Kenneally's writing so I may try some of her other books in the future.",
"FTC Advisory: Sourcebooks Fire provided me with a copy of Catching Jordan.",
"No goody bags, sponsorships, \"material connections,\" or bribes were exchanged for my review."
]
|
Super Mario Kart tended to dominate the N64 as the best multiplayer game. So I've been waiting and watching the kart racing games for the PS2 hoping to find one that will give the same level of fun. Unfortunately, Super Bombad Racer falls short.
Remember that kart-racing games are suppose to be fun and childish, so the cartoonish characters with large heads and silly taunts are up the right alley. The large number of special items (forward weapons, backward weapons, boosts, shields, etc.) adds a good level of playability to the game, unfortunately with a bunch of racers everyone is shooting everyone all the time and there's no real strategy involved.
The controls for the game are also very loose. It takes a lot of getting used to as you bounce all over the place and can't make the tight turns you'd like to. The levels are relatively simple and there's not a lot you can do to improve your racing ability on them.
You'll probably play through all 9 nine of the levels in about an hour and then wonder what you're suppose to do. The game quickly looses its enjoyment in single player mode. Luckily there's multi-player mode to come to the rescue and this game is good fun with a bunch of people. Still, I've found after running through the levels a couple times with friends, there's just not a lot of joy to it.
Even battle mode has issues. With so many hit-you-from-across-the-screen-automatically weapons there isn't much skill required. You just need to know where on the level the good weapons can be found and hope your opponents don't. And on some levels, Yoda-who can damage everyone with his special item-can just sit out of the way and slowly take everyone out.
Overall, this is a fun game for a little while, but is likely to sit on your shelf except when you have friends over. It's probably better to save your money and wait for that great kart-racing game to come out for the PS2. | 0 | negative | [
"Super Mario Kart tended to dominate the N64 as the best multiplayer game.",
"So I've been waiting and watching the kart racing games for the PS2 hoping to find one that will give the same level of fun.",
"Unfortunately, Super Bombad Racer falls short.",
"Remember that kart-racing games are suppose to be fun and childish, so the cartoonish characters with large heads and silly taunts are up the right alley.",
"The large number of special items (forward weapons, backward weapons, boosts, shields, etc.",
") adds a good level of playability to the game, unfortunately with a bunch of racers everyone is shooting everyone all the time and there's no real strategy involved.",
"The controls for the game are also very loose.",
"It takes a lot of getting used to as you bounce all over the place and can't make the tight turns you'd like to.",
"The levels are relatively simple and there's not a lot you can do to improve your racing ability on them.",
"You'll probably play through all 9 nine of the levels in about an hour and then wonder what you're suppose to do.",
"The game quickly looses its enjoyment in single player mode.",
"Luckily there's multi-player mode to come to the rescue and this game is good fun with a bunch of people.",
"Still, I've found after running through the levels a couple times with friends, there's just not a lot of joy to it.",
"Even battle mode has issues.",
"With so many hit-you-from-across-the-screen-automatically weapons there isn't much skill required.",
"You just need to know where on the level the good weapons can be found and hope your opponents don't.",
"And on some levels, Yoda-who can damage everyone with his special item-can just sit out of the way and slowly take everyone out.",
"Overall, this is a fun game for a little while, but is likely to sit on your shelf except when you have friends over.",
"It's probably better to save your money and wait for that great kart-racing game to come out for the PS2."
]
|
Not a great product, IMO. I decided to give this a try when I was running low my regular product, Probiotic Miracle, and it was a mistake.
My dogs have a penchant for eating cat feces, and there are many stray cats in our neighborhood. On occasion they will get into something exceptionally noxious that gives them diarrhea. I used to deal with runny stools fairly frequently, usually outside the house, but, unfortunately, sometimes inside it. However, during the two years of using Probiotic Miracle exclusively they did not have one bout of diarrhea, even though they were still getting into stuff. They would have a soft stool once in a while, but no accidents and no mess.
But after using this stuff for only two months, yesterday I came home to my old nightmare: a stinky, runny, disgusting mess in the dog's room.
I will be getting some Probiotic Miracle ASAP and never using this stuff again. It just doesn't work when the going gets tough. If I want to give them some variety of probiotic strains I'll give them the occasional capsule of my own probiotics. Not worth to switch to something like this.
Plus, as other reviewers have noted, it's very chalky and powdery. One of my dogs doesn't really like it. It's noticeably diminished his gusto for his meals. | 0 | negative | [
"Not a great product, IMO.",
"I decided to give this a try when I was running low my regular product, Probiotic Miracle, and it was a mistake.",
"My dogs have a penchant for eating cat feces, and there are many stray cats in our neighborhood.",
"On occasion they will get into something exceptionally noxious that gives them diarrhea.",
"I used to deal with runny stools fairly frequently, usually outside the house, but, unfortunately, sometimes inside it.",
"However, during the two years of using Probiotic Miracle exclusively they did not have one bout of diarrhea, even though they were still getting into stuff.",
"They would have a soft stool once in a while, but no accidents and no mess.",
"But after using this stuff for only two months, yesterday I came home to my old nightmare: a stinky, runny, disgusting mess in the dog's room.",
"I will be getting some Probiotic Miracle ASAP and never using this stuff again.",
"It just doesn't work when the going gets tough.",
"If I want to give them some variety of probiotic strains I'll give them the occasional capsule of my own probiotics.",
"Not worth to switch to something like this.",
"Plus, as other reviewers have noted, it's very chalky and powdery.",
"One of my dogs doesn't really like it.",
"It's noticeably diminished his gusto for his meals."
]
|
Allegedly by E3..MS is supposed to be dropping the price on the 360 60GB Pro model down to $250..which is good for me and Microsoft..not so go for Nintendo because I had been planning on getting a Wii soon and it looks like I won't..bigger game library,60GB hard drive,High Definition gaming,no throwing the controller into the LCD TV and breaking it on accident because of a cheap strap..
oh and the avatar system that MS has..AND the ability to install games to the hard drive..so MS is using the same idea as Nintendo and Sony..however they are doing it better because their online network (im sure you have heard of it..it's called Xbox LIVE)..granted you pay $50 a year and I'm willing to do that because of the content available..
downloaded TV episodes in HD,rented movies in HD,downloaded full games,game add-ons.
The 360 also when connected to your network,can stream content from your PC *I have a computer running Windows XP and Vista x64 on a separate hard drive and have never had any trouble streaming media through my home network*
I would have handed my money over to Nintedo,but when my laptop is more powerful than their flagship game console..I start to wonder "is it worth it?"..
One reason why the Nintendo Wii is "in demand"..they only make what? 10,000 units per year?..
Whereas Microsoft and Sony make that many consoles in a couple of months. | 0 | negative | [
"Allegedly by E3..",
"MS is supposed to be dropping the price on the 360 60GB Pro model down to $250..",
"which is good for me and Microsoft..",
"not so go for Nintendo because I had been planning on getting a Wii soon and it looks like I won't..",
"bigger game library,60GB hard drive,High Definition gaming,no throwing the controller into the LCD TV and breaking it on accident because of a cheap strap..",
"oh and the avatar system that MS has..",
"AND the ability to install games to the hard drive..",
"so MS is using the same idea as Nintendo and Sony..",
"however they are doing it better because their online network (im sure you have heard of it..",
"it's called Xbox LIVE)..",
"granted you pay $50 a year and I'm willing to do that because of the content available..",
"downloaded TV episodes in HD,rented movies in HD,downloaded full games,game add-ons.",
"The 360 also when connected to your network,can stream content from your PC *I have a computer running Windows XP and Vista x64 on a separate hard drive and have never had any trouble streaming media through my home network*\n\nI would have handed my money over to Nintedo,but when my laptop is more powerful than their flagship game console..",
"I start to wonder \"is it worth it?",
"\"..",
"One reason why the Nintendo Wii is \"in demand\"..",
"they only make what?",
"10,000 units per year?..",
"Whereas Microsoft and Sony make that many consoles in a couple of months."
]
|
Final Exam (Jimmy Huston, 1981)
The best thing about Final Exam is a spoiler, and so I can't really come right out and say it, but it's something that really, really confused me when I first saw it back in the day and really, really impresses me now. It's something that I can't remember any other slasher film doing, before or since. Which if you think about it is pretty darned impressive. That's not to say this is a good movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly makes it memorable. I hadn't seen it, before a few nights ago, in something like twenty-five years, and I still remembered a great deal about it. (Of course, this could be because I also still had the novelization of the movie, and read it obsessively in seventh and eighth grades; for that matter, I may still have my copy around here somewhere, as beaten-up as it must be by now.) One way or the other, though, it was much as I remembered it, though now dated and seeming somewhat clich now that I have a larger grasp on the history of slasher movies than I did in the early eighties. Back then, I'd only seen two or three. I don't want to think about how many I've seen now...
Plot: it's time for finals (actually, I could swear that in a few places, they say it's actually midterms, but I guess Midterm Exam didn't quite have the same ring to it) at a small college in the middle of nowhere. A killer struck (in the movie's opening scene) at another college just down the road, which has got everyone pretty keyed up as well, which isn't helped when the local numbskull fraternity plays a practical joke that sends some of the more gullible students scurrying for the cops. (Cue obvious "boy who cried wolf" subplot.) Of course, the killer has migrated, and starts picking off some of the last students left on campus, as most have already gone home for break.
It's your typical slasher, except for that one thing (the question you're left with at the end of the movie? Yeah, that one thing), so don't go into it looking for any revelations vis-a-vis the acting, camerawork, score, or anything else; it's very typical of its subspecies in every other way. Still, that one thing does make it well worth your time if you're even a casual fan of the slasher movie, so in that case, you should probably hunt it down. ** | 0 | negative | [
"Final Exam (Jimmy Huston, 1981)\n\nThe best thing about Final Exam is a spoiler, and so I can't really come right out and say it, but it's something that really, really confused me when I first saw it back in the day and really, really impresses me now.",
"It's something that I can't remember any other slasher film doing, before or since.",
"Which if you think about it is pretty darned impressive.",
"That's not to say this is a good movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly makes it memorable.",
"I hadn't seen it, before a few nights ago, in something like twenty-five years, and I still remembered a great deal about it.",
"(Of course, this could be because I also still had the novelization of the movie, and read it obsessively in seventh and eighth grades; for that matter, I may still have my copy around here somewhere, as beaten-up as it must be by now.",
") One way or the other, though, it was much as I remembered it, though now dated and seeming somewhat clich now that I have a larger grasp on the history of slasher movies than I did in the early eighties.",
"Back then, I'd only seen two or three.",
"I don't want to think about how many I've seen now...",
"Plot: it's time for finals (actually, I could swear that in a few places, they say it's actually midterms, but I guess Midterm Exam didn't quite have the same ring to it) at a small college in the middle of nowhere.",
"A killer struck (in the movie's opening scene) at another college just down the road, which has got everyone pretty keyed up as well, which isn't helped when the local numbskull fraternity plays a practical joke that sends some of the more gullible students scurrying for the cops.",
"(Cue obvious \"boy who cried wolf\" subplot.",
") Of course, the killer has migrated, and starts picking off some of the last students left on campus, as most have already gone home for break.",
"It's your typical slasher, except for that one thing (the question you're left with at the end of the movie?",
"Yeah, that one thing), so don't go into it looking for any revelations vis-a-vis the acting, camerawork, score, or anything else; it's very typical of its subspecies in every other way.",
"Still, that one thing does make it well worth your time if you're even a casual fan of the slasher movie, so in that case, you should probably hunt it down.",
"**"
]
|
Because of the title and the author, I slogged through this...but I think it would be better in Spanish or not at all. The sentence structure jumps a lot making it stifr (subj-verb, subj-verb). The narrations switch mid-sentence from third person to first person regularly. This may be to get the info to the reader and then jump in the head of the character, but it's confusing. The repetition is over the top. Again, it often shows the obsession of thought of a character, but it makes me want to jump to the next paragraph. Don't think I missed anything when I did that. I like some other of Mr Hemingway's literary contributions, and I do recall watching this movie when much younger, but ugh...Only finished because it was a looong plane ride and I thought I should to understand what others see. Either I failed or EH did. | 0 | negative | [
"Because of the title and the author, I slogged through this...",
"but I think it would be better in Spanish or not at all.",
"The sentence structure jumps a lot making it stifr (subj-verb, subj-verb).",
"The narrations switch mid-sentence from third person to first person regularly.",
"This may be to get the info to the reader and then jump in the head of the character, but it's confusing.",
"The repetition is over the top.",
"Again, it often shows the obsession of thought of a character, but it makes me want to jump to the next paragraph.",
"Don't think I missed anything when I did that.",
"I like some other of Mr Hemingway's literary contributions, and I do recall watching this movie when much younger, but ugh...",
"Only finished because it was a looong plane ride and I thought I should to understand what others see.",
"Either I failed or EH did."
]
|
There is no actual table of contents for this collection...just a list showing Histories, Comedies, Tragedies, etc...you must go thru page by page in each category if you want to read other than the first item under each category.
The book is very cheap. I got what I paid for; a sloppy poorly formatted book that clogs up my storage. Amazon should remove this from the library. I would rate it as 0 but that isn't an option.
BY CHEAP DIGITAL BOOKS ONLY WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE PRECAUTION AND A CAREFUL INSPECTION OF THE REVIEWS. THERE SEEMS NO WAY TO GET THEM COMPLETELY OFF YOUR STORAGE. THEY STAY IN THE CLOUD CLOGGING IT LIKE SPACE DEBRIS. | 0 | negative | [
"There is no actual table of contents for this collection...",
"just a list showing Histories, Comedies, Tragedies, etc...",
"you must go thru page by page in each category if you want to read other than the first item under each category.",
"The book is very cheap.",
"I got what I paid for; a sloppy poorly formatted book that clogs up my storage.",
"Amazon should remove this from the library.",
"I would rate it as 0 but that isn't an option.",
"BY CHEAP DIGITAL BOOKS ONLY WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE PRECAUTION AND A CAREFUL INSPECTION OF THE REVIEWS.",
"THERE SEEMS NO WAY TO GET THEM COMPLETELY OFF YOUR STORAGE.",
"THEY STAY IN THE CLOUD CLOGGING IT LIKE SPACE DEBRIS."
]
|
Several years ago I bought one of these and it's still running strong and skimming like a charm. It's a very simple set up with practically no adjustments necessary. In my book, the simpler the better. It runs efficiently, fairly quietly, and effectively removes a lot of nasty gunk. Now, two years later, I've set up a second reef tank and bought the tried and true Seaclone for the new set up. My how things have changed. Everything seemed exactly as before, so I had it up and running in a mere few minutes. A day later I noticed little purple, plastic pieces in the tank and the skimmer was making an on/off noise. I quickly discovered the worthless, flimsy impeller inside the pump had shed its blades. Back into the box it went for a refund. I figured that perhaps I happened upon a dud, so I bought it a second time. Guess what? Deja vu.
In short, an otherwise good skimmer has been rendered useless by the flimsy impeller that is 100% guaranteed to malfunction within hours. Really? Yep, really. And it seems I'm not alone here either. I've read many reviewers complaining of the same thing now that I took the time to see if others had the same problem. From this moment I vow to never buy another Marineland product EVER. In fact, I hope this decision to cut corners over a cheap impeller ultimately causes the company to go belly up and float down river. Why so harsh? Well, obviously the arrogant morons at Marineland are fully aware of this problem and have done absolutely nothing to remedy it. | 0 | negative | [
"Several years ago I bought one of these and it's still running strong and skimming like a charm.",
"It's a very simple set up with practically no adjustments necessary.",
"In my book, the simpler the better.",
"It runs efficiently, fairly quietly, and effectively removes a lot of nasty gunk.",
"Now, two years later, I've set up a second reef tank and bought the tried and true Seaclone for the new set up.",
"My how things have changed.",
"Everything seemed exactly as before, so I had it up and running in a mere few minutes.",
"A day later I noticed little purple, plastic pieces in the tank and the skimmer was making an on/off noise.",
"I quickly discovered the worthless, flimsy impeller inside the pump had shed its blades.",
"Back into the box it went for a refund.",
"I figured that perhaps I happened upon a dud, so I bought it a second time.",
"Guess what?",
"Deja vu.",
"In short, an otherwise good skimmer has been rendered useless by the flimsy impeller that is 100% guaranteed to malfunction within hours.",
"Really?",
"Yep, really.",
"And it seems I'm not alone here either.",
"I've read many reviewers complaining of the same thing now that I took the time to see if others had the same problem.",
"From this moment I vow to never buy another Marineland product EVER.",
"In fact, I hope this decision to cut corners over a cheap impeller ultimately causes the company to go belly up and float down river.",
"Why so harsh?",
"Well, obviously the arrogant morons at Marineland are fully aware of this problem and have done absolutely nothing to remedy it."
]
|
We have a fountain that is in a concrete lined pond. The fountain has its own pump, but the pond water was getting algae and dirt. This pump is operating to clean up the pond and is doing a marvelous job so far. It has a large removable and 'cleanable' filter. So far so good.
Time is now 16 months later. Pump stopped working about three weeks ago. The motor appears to work and the impeller turns freely but there does not seem to be a 'connection' between the two. Called Danner and was advised that if cord is cut which we had to do to wire it in with the fountain motor that warranty is voided. So much for a 'warranty'. There is a store here in CA that apparently sells this product but have not been able to catch them open. So will be looking for either a new pump for the whole unit or hope to locate another that will be more dependable. | 0 | negative | [
"We have a fountain that is in a concrete lined pond.",
"The fountain has its own pump, but the pond water was getting algae and dirt.",
"This pump is operating to clean up the pond and is doing a marvelous job so far.",
"It has a large removable and 'cleanable' filter.",
"So far so good.",
"Time is now 16 months later.",
"Pump stopped working about three weeks ago.",
"The motor appears to work and the impeller turns freely but there does not seem to be a 'connection' between the two.",
"Called Danner and was advised that if cord is cut which we had to do to wire it in with the fountain motor that warranty is voided.",
"So much for a 'warranty'.",
"There is a store here in CA that apparently sells this product but have not been able to catch them open.",
"So will be looking for either a new pump for the whole unit or hope to locate another that will be more dependable."
]
|
I loved the first three books and think they are the finest trilogy ever written. I was very excited to read this fourth novel and bought it on a business trip. Wow. What a let-down. This book stunk to high heaven. Nothing happens; there is no action. I read the first 400 pages thinking surely SOMETHING exciting will occur. But no...nothing. I can't believe the author published this piece of crud and sullied his name. I recommend you skip this one. SAVE your money...borrow it from a friend - I have a low priced one for you... | 0 | negative | [
"I loved the first three books and think they are the finest trilogy ever written.",
"I was very excited to read this fourth novel and bought it on a business trip.",
"Wow.",
"What a let-down.",
"This book stunk to high heaven.",
"Nothing happens; there is no action.",
"I read the first 400 pages thinking surely SOMETHING exciting will occur.",
"But no...",
"nothing.",
"I can't believe the author published this piece of crud and sullied his name.",
"I recommend you skip this one.",
"SAVE your money...",
"borrow it from a friend - I have a low priced one for you..."
]
|
***Update Feb 2010 - Optimum Home Entertainment in the UK have released Rider On The Rain on Region 2 DVD and can be found on Amazon.co.uk. The transfer is perfect and has the English and French versions, but you will need a Region free DVD player. If ordering Optimum's DVD release, do not get it mixed up with Orbit Media's release of Rider On The Rain which has similar cover art and is an even worse version than this Region 1 release.***
I got my DVD through [...], the cover art is the same as this one listed on Amazon, DVD sleeve is purple in colour with a photo of Bronson(waste up on the right side of the DVD cover with Bronson facing to the left) in a dark gray t-shirt (photograph is not related to this film), the words RIDER and RAIN appear in large capitalised red lettering with "on the" in lower case white lettering along with Bronson's name also in white in lower case lettering with the C and B capitalised, all top centre of the DVD cover. The [...] version is half the price of the amazon.com version.
Assuming these are the same DVD transfers, it is another public domain non DVD quality release. It appears to be taken from a medium quality VHS. It is anamorphic as described on the [...] website and it also does appear to be in widescreen although I'm not sure if it is original aspect ration widescreen but nothing appears obvious to be missing from the left or right based on the framing of scenes. I watched this DVD through a projector onto a 140" screen so perhaps the following picture quality description may not be as negative on a 30", 40" or 50" TV screen, the picture quality is watchable but is very soft in places with background actors, buildings, objects etc having no detail at times which is expected from a VHS copy. The image did not have any major print damage or scratches, it looks like what it is, a fairly worn VHS transfer to DVD. Again as listed on the [...] website, this is indeed in 5.1 surround sound, the actors dialogue comes through crisp and clear through all speakers attached to my home theater amp and all ambient sound effects are also crisp and clear albeit with a very low minor hissing sound which is not that noticeable, however the same can not be said for the musical score which at times for some reason sounds like a CD player running off batteries that are almost dead but still trying to play the CD, that's the best way I can think to describe it. Strangely though, during scenes where the musical score is played along with dialogue, the dialogue is perfectly fine. I also noticed that the transfer seems to be cropped slightly top and bottom, at times during the opening of particular scene's, it appears as if the camera is positioned just a little to low cutting of the actors heads from the nose up until the camera moves into the scene and the framing corrects itself.
I read up on the Orbit Media DVD released in the UK and I checked if the cuts made by Orbit Media to their version are intact in this version. This DVD version appears to be intact and uncut. As I have only just now watched this film for the first time, I can not be sure that the film is here 100% in its entirety but it does appear to be so.
I really did enjoy this Bronson film and I wish that a respectable DVD distributor will find a high quality print and release this on DVD properly but for now from reading about other public domain versions of this film, I think this DVD version might just be a case of the best we will get until that time. | 0 | negative | [
"***Update Feb 2010 - Optimum Home Entertainment in the UK have released Rider On The Rain on Region 2 DVD and can be found on Amazon.",
"co.",
"uk.",
"The transfer is perfect and has the English and French versions, but you will need a Region free DVD player.",
"If ordering Optimum's DVD release, do not get it mixed up with Orbit Media's release of Rider On The Rain which has similar cover art and is an even worse version than this Region 1 release.",
"***\n\nI got my DVD through [...",
"], the cover art is the same as this one listed on Amazon, DVD sleeve is purple in colour with a photo of Bronson(waste up on the right side of the DVD cover with Bronson facing to the left) in a dark gray t-shirt (photograph is not related to this film), the words RIDER and RAIN appear in large capitalised red lettering with \"on the\" in lower case white lettering along with Bronson's name also in white in lower case lettering with the C and B capitalised, all top centre of the DVD cover.",
"The [...",
"] version is half the price of the amazon.",
"com version.",
"Assuming these are the same DVD transfers, it is another public domain non DVD quality release.",
"It appears to be taken from a medium quality VHS.",
"It is anamorphic as described on the [...",
"] website and it also does appear to be in widescreen although I'm not sure if it is original aspect ration widescreen but nothing appears obvious to be missing from the left or right based on the framing of scenes.",
"I watched this DVD through a projector onto a 140\" screen so perhaps the following picture quality description may not be as negative on a 30\", 40\" or 50\" TV screen, the picture quality is watchable but is very soft in places with background actors, buildings, objects etc having no detail at times which is expected from a VHS copy.",
"The image did not have any major print damage or scratches, it looks like what it is, a fairly worn VHS transfer to DVD.",
"Again as listed on the [...",
"] website, this is indeed in 5.",
"1 surround sound, the actors dialogue comes through crisp and clear through all speakers attached to my home theater amp and all ambient sound effects are also crisp and clear albeit with a very low minor hissing sound which is not that noticeable, however the same can not be said for the musical score which at times for some reason sounds like a CD player running off batteries that are almost dead but still trying to play the CD, that's the best way I can think to describe it.",
"Strangely though, during scenes where the musical score is played along with dialogue, the dialogue is perfectly fine.",
"I also noticed that the transfer seems to be cropped slightly top and bottom, at times during the opening of particular scene's, it appears as if the camera is positioned just a little to low cutting of the actors heads from the nose up until the camera moves into the scene and the framing corrects itself.",
"I read up on the Orbit Media DVD released in the UK and I checked if the cuts made by Orbit Media to their version are intact in this version.",
"This DVD version appears to be intact and uncut.",
"As I have only just now watched this film for the first time, I can not be sure that the film is here 100% in its entirety but it does appear to be so.",
"I really did enjoy this Bronson film and I wish that a respectable DVD distributor will find a high quality print and release this on DVD properly but for now from reading about other public domain versions of this film, I think this DVD version might just be a case of the best we will get until that time."
]
|
Having played M&M6 and M&M7, I was really looking forward to this game. Unfortunately, once I started I lost interest pretty quickly. It is so similar to the earlier games that I felt I was just replaying one of the other titles.
My biggest problem is that there have been few if any upgrades to the basic game engine since #6. Don't get me wrong, I like the basic game engine. The world looks interesting and is easy to navigate. However, some of the problems that first bothered me in 6 have become even more annoying in the later titles. Namely:
HOARDS OF UNINTELLIGENT MONSTERS: All monsters in the M&M universe behave in exactly the same way. Once they see you, they charge to attack. (OK. A few will shoot at you from range, but the principle is still the same.) No opponents use even rudimentary tactics. As a result, every fight feels the same. And there are A LOT of fights. There are so many damn monsters in this game that your finger will get sore from pressing the attack key, and the repetition gets pretty mind numbing. In particular, I got sick of the pirates on the first island. There's a trigger zone that creates new ones every time you enter it. How many times do we really want to kill the same monster off?
MONSTERS DON'T REACT TO EVENTS AROUND THEM: The game uses the tired D&D cliche of the dungeon crawl. That is, you go into the first room, kill everything there. Rest. Move on to next room. Repeat. Guards in other rooms don't react to your presence until you attack them, even if that is months later. Frankly, I would be happier if the next game in the series used a system like the one in Fallout 2, where all the guards in a complex react in a coordinated way to your presence once they realize that you are there. This forces you to use stealth, dialog skills, and to really think about who you attack and when.
THE STORY IS STILL VERY LINEAR: Basically, you have a bunch of quests you have to do. You have no real choices in who you ally yourself with and who you attack. The world consists of people you talk to and people you kill, with no overlap between the two.
THE NPC SYSTEM COULD BE VASTLY IMPROVED: You have no choice in how you handle NPC's. You hear what they have to say, then do their quests for them. I would much rather see the game move towards an NPC systme like the one in Fallout 2, which is really quite good. Your lead character's INT determines how many things he can think of to say, and his oratory skill determines how well he can lie and manipulate people. And you always seem to have at least two or three different ways to approach any NPC.
Overall, my big problem with this game is that there just isn't a lot of thinking involved, or much freedom of action for the player. You slog your way through endless fights against repetitive and brainless monsters, only to collect a reward and then do more of the same. | 0 | negative | [
"Having played M&M6 and M&M7, I was really looking forward to this game.",
"Unfortunately, once I started I lost interest pretty quickly.",
"It is so similar to the earlier games that I felt I was just replaying one of the other titles.",
"My biggest problem is that there have been few if any upgrades to the basic game engine since #6.",
"Don't get me wrong, I like the basic game engine.",
"The world looks interesting and is easy to navigate.",
"However, some of the problems that first bothered me in 6 have become even more annoying in the later titles.",
"Namely:\nHOARDS OF UNINTELLIGENT MONSTERS: All monsters in the M&M universe behave in exactly the same way.",
"Once they see you, they charge to attack.",
"(OK.",
"A few will shoot at you from range, but the principle is still the same.",
") No opponents use even rudimentary tactics.",
"As a result, every fight feels the same.",
"And there are A LOT of fights.",
"There are so many damn monsters in this game that your finger will get sore from pressing the attack key, and the repetition gets pretty mind numbing.",
"In particular, I got sick of the pirates on the first island.",
"There's a trigger zone that creates new ones every time you enter it.",
"How many times do we really want to kill the same monster off?",
"MONSTERS DON'T REACT TO EVENTS AROUND THEM: The game uses the tired D&D cliche of the dungeon crawl.",
"That is, you go into the first room, kill everything there.",
"Rest.",
"Move on to next room.",
"Repeat.",
"Guards in other rooms don't react to your presence until you attack them, even if that is months later.",
"Frankly, I would be happier if the next game in the series used a system like the one in Fallout 2, where all the guards in a complex react in a coordinated way to your presence once they realize that you are there.",
"This forces you to use stealth, dialog skills, and to really think about who you attack and when.",
"THE STORY IS STILL VERY LINEAR: Basically, you have a bunch of quests you have to do.",
"You have no real choices in who you ally yourself with and who you attack.",
"The world consists of people you talk to and people you kill, with no overlap between the two.",
"THE NPC SYSTEM COULD BE VASTLY IMPROVED: You have no choice in how you handle NPC's.",
"You hear what they have to say, then do their quests for them.",
"I would much rather see the game move towards an NPC systme like the one in Fallout 2, which is really quite good.",
"Your lead character's INT determines how many things he can think of to say, and his oratory skill determines how well he can lie and manipulate people.",
"And you always seem to have at least two or three different ways to approach any NPC.",
"Overall, my big problem with this game is that there just isn't a lot of thinking involved, or much freedom of action for the player.",
"You slog your way through endless fights against repetitive and brainless monsters, only to collect a reward and then do more of the same."
]
|
Although I can enjoy stories of societies with plenty of rules, and obsessions with faddish luxuries, I found this film tedious, in spite of its visual beauty and sets that were apparently quite faithful to the period. Missing in action were the human beings who manage to make life interesting in spite of social constraints.
Before discussing the details, I must express my appreciation for Themis-Athena's well-written favorable review, which pays tribute to Edith Wharton's novel and defines its intent very well.
Two defects of the film are fatal enough to merit a cement burial. The conversation of the society is uniformly boring - primarily about possessions; fads including the sculpture of May's hands by an "artist" as kitchy as today's Kinkaid; empty gossip related to social rules. All this may be necessary to define the society, but there is too much of it and not enough real feeling to make the society human. By contrast, most films of "Anna Karenina" strike an acceptable balance between a formal society and its impassioned members. Yet the sets are beatifully realized, and the credits show that the set designer had the cooperation of Baccarat and Tiffany's. The second defect is Daniel Day-Lewis's performance. His mincing, quiet speech really annoyed me, and made it impossible for me to feel sympathy for his emotionally constipated character. To me, he sounded like a satirical immitation of John Malkovitch in "Dangerous Liasons" - which was released four years later, although Malkovitch as Valmont had bite. A more interesting directorial and scripting choice would have been to make Newland Archer more convincingly attracted to his wife May, so that there would be a stronger emotional conflict within him. As presented, his lack of interest in May made him seem more pointless, and not interesting enough to deserve the love of the more passionate Countess. If that was the best that New York high society had to offer, the Countess should have made an immediate U-turn for Europe.
Positive reviewers tried to defend the excessive use of narration - presumably with passages from the novel, but the narration in this film was much worse than it is in other films. The narrations were much too long, and therefore intruded on the actors. Second, actors sometimes repeated a line of the narration. I suppose the writers considered this to be cute, and might have been trying to play with the relationship between drama and life, as they did quite obviously by the use of operas and plays. Although a narration is sometimes a sign of laziness or frustration, I would consider this to be simply a failed effect.
In spite of the challenges of a script that constrained like a tight corset, there were some excellent performances. Wynona Ryder's appearance was perfect for her smallish part, and she was in many ways an exception to the general emotional shallowness of the film. While appearing to be innocent, her nuanced facieal expressions and body language as May showed how this story could be brought to life. It made her convincing as she executed extremely precise tactics in dealing with her husband's psyche, while playing by the rules of her society. Michelle Pfeiffer turned in an excellent performance as her cousin Ellen the Countess. Always interesting, and capable of acting very sexy, she measured her performance as apropriate to the part. Some changes in the writing and in the directing of Day-Lewis could have improved her side of the triangle. Even the first scene at the opera didn't seem exactly right. Other reviewers have commented on several excellent performances in the minor roles, especially Miriam Margolies as a credible and human matriarch, and Stuart Wilson as a stereotypical unfaithful Victorian husband.
Although I felt the first three quarters of the film were difficult to enjoy, I found the plot turns in the last quarter to be interesting and amusing. The epilogue, set twenty years after the main action of the story seemed to be an unnecessary waste of camera time.
The camera work was excellent, in my opinion. One reviewer complained about unusual angles, but I found them interesting and tasteful.
With a major restructuring of the characterizations, and greater humanity in the social scenes, and finer tuning of the emotional development, this story could be interesting, and would justify the expense of so many beautiful costumes and sets, enhanced by great camera work. | 0 | negative | [
"Although I can enjoy stories of societies with plenty of rules, and obsessions with faddish luxuries, I found this film tedious, in spite of its visual beauty and sets that were apparently quite faithful to the period.",
"Missing in action were the human beings who manage to make life interesting in spite of social constraints.",
"Before discussing the details, I must express my appreciation for Themis-Athena's well-written favorable review, which pays tribute to Edith Wharton's novel and defines its intent very well.",
"Two defects of the film are fatal enough to merit a cement burial.",
"The conversation of the society is uniformly boring - primarily about possessions; fads including the sculpture of May's hands by an \"artist\" as kitchy as today's Kinkaid; empty gossip related to social rules.",
"All this may be necessary to define the society, but there is too much of it and not enough real feeling to make the society human.",
"By contrast, most films of \"Anna Karenina\" strike an acceptable balance between a formal society and its impassioned members.",
"Yet the sets are beatifully realized, and the credits show that the set designer had the cooperation of Baccarat and Tiffany's.",
"The second defect is Daniel Day-Lewis's performance.",
"His mincing, quiet speech really annoyed me, and made it impossible for me to feel sympathy for his emotionally constipated character.",
"To me, he sounded like a satirical immitation of John Malkovitch in \"Dangerous Liasons\" - which was released four years later, although Malkovitch as Valmont had bite.",
"A more interesting directorial and scripting choice would have been to make Newland Archer more convincingly attracted to his wife May, so that there would be a stronger emotional conflict within him.",
"As presented, his lack of interest in May made him seem more pointless, and not interesting enough to deserve the love of the more passionate Countess.",
"If that was the best that New York high society had to offer, the Countess should have made an immediate U-turn for Europe.",
"Positive reviewers tried to defend the excessive use of narration - presumably with passages from the novel, but the narration in this film was much worse than it is in other films.",
"The narrations were much too long, and therefore intruded on the actors.",
"Second, actors sometimes repeated a line of the narration.",
"I suppose the writers considered this to be cute, and might have been trying to play with the relationship between drama and life, as they did quite obviously by the use of operas and plays.",
"Although a narration is sometimes a sign of laziness or frustration, I would consider this to be simply a failed effect.",
"In spite of the challenges of a script that constrained like a tight corset, there were some excellent performances.",
"Wynona Ryder's appearance was perfect for her smallish part, and she was in many ways an exception to the general emotional shallowness of the film.",
"While appearing to be innocent, her nuanced facieal expressions and body language as May showed how this story could be brought to life.",
"It made her convincing as she executed extremely precise tactics in dealing with her husband's psyche, while playing by the rules of her society.",
"Michelle Pfeiffer turned in an excellent performance as her cousin Ellen the Countess.",
"Always interesting, and capable of acting very sexy, she measured her performance as apropriate to the part.",
"Some changes in the writing and in the directing of Day-Lewis could have improved her side of the triangle.",
"Even the first scene at the opera didn't seem exactly right.",
"Other reviewers have commented on several excellent performances in the minor roles, especially Miriam Margolies as a credible and human matriarch, and Stuart Wilson as a stereotypical unfaithful Victorian husband.",
"Although I felt the first three quarters of the film were difficult to enjoy, I found the plot turns in the last quarter to be interesting and amusing.",
"The epilogue, set twenty years after the main action of the story seemed to be an unnecessary waste of camera time.",
"The camera work was excellent, in my opinion.",
"One reviewer complained about unusual angles, but I found them interesting and tasteful.",
"With a major restructuring of the characterizations, and greater humanity in the social scenes, and finer tuning of the emotional development, this story could be interesting, and would justify the expense of so many beautiful costumes and sets, enhanced by great camera work."
]
|
I received a pole that was obviously returned and broken. The manufacturer's tape was cut and replaced with plastic tape. When I opened the box and pulled out the pole it was obvious that someone had torn open the plastic wrapper that the manufacturer put on the pole. The plastic ring that holds the end cap on was broken.
The description stated that Jackite had made several enhancements to the product - such as "reinforcing" the screw on end cap. So I called Jackite and asked about this. I was told that the new screw on cap is rubberized plastic. My broken cap is obviously plastic-plastic. I asked if Jackite could tell me the manufacture date from the UPC on the pole. They said that they don't track the pole manufacture date.
It is apparent to me that I got an older pole. The only solution I see is to order the pole directly from Jackite to ensure that I get the new and improved model of the pole.
I hope that Amazon does not ship out this broken pole to someone else. I have read that other reviewers had the same problem.
Update: March 8, 2015. Sunrise Industries was kind enough to write and offer to send out a replacement pole. I informed then that I did contact the manufacturer (Jackite) who sent our a replacement end cap.
I did use the Jackite Pole at a military deployment this weekend to hold a 3 ounce Slim Jim antenna. Jackite does not offer a stake for the 31' pole. Jackite does offer a wall and ladder stabilizer for this model pole for an additional $25, plus shipping. Unfortunately I was using the pole in the middle of a field. Despite several days of rain, the ground was too hard to get a stake in the ground more than a few inches. So I wound up trying to guy the pole. The downward pressure needed to get the pole plumb (vertical) seemed to cause the pole to collapse. Several pole sections became jammed and impossible to get released.
Others have noted that the pole will come crashing down in spite of being locked in with the twisting motion as described in the instructions. In order to overcome the poles from coming unlocked I ordered some gaffers tape at a cost of $17 - as others recommended. Unfortunately the gaffers tape did not hold the sections together. Others have written that duct tape just makes a mess. I am note sure how to overcome the pole sections coming loose or getting the pole plumb.
I spent $47 on a 1/2" diameter 5 foot soil probe to try and get a stake in the ground to hold the pole vertical without the need for guying or to at least get the pole vertical on hard ground. Perhaps this pole is best used attached attached to a post, not in the middle of a field.
I thought that this pole would be a good idea after installing it in my yard for 24 hours. I'm not so sure now. But I am out too much money to give up on it. I am thinking that I should have gotten an aluminum military mast instead. | 0 | negative | [
"I received a pole that was obviously returned and broken.",
"The manufacturer's tape was cut and replaced with plastic tape.",
"When I opened the box and pulled out the pole it was obvious that someone had torn open the plastic wrapper that the manufacturer put on the pole.",
"The plastic ring that holds the end cap on was broken.",
"The description stated that Jackite had made several enhancements to the product - such as \"reinforcing\" the screw on end cap.",
"So I called Jackite and asked about this.",
"I was told that the new screw on cap is rubberized plastic.",
"My broken cap is obviously plastic-plastic.",
"I asked if Jackite could tell me the manufacture date from the UPC on the pole.",
"They said that they don't track the pole manufacture date.",
"It is apparent to me that I got an older pole.",
"The only solution I see is to order the pole directly from Jackite to ensure that I get the new and improved model of the pole.",
"I hope that Amazon does not ship out this broken pole to someone else.",
"I have read that other reviewers had the same problem.",
"Update: March 8, 2015.",
"Sunrise Industries was kind enough to write and offer to send out a replacement pole.",
"I informed then that I did contact the manufacturer (Jackite) who sent our a replacement end cap.",
"I did use the Jackite Pole at a military deployment this weekend to hold a 3 ounce Slim Jim antenna.",
"Jackite does not offer a stake for the 31' pole.",
"Jackite does offer a wall and ladder stabilizer for this model pole for an additional $25, plus shipping.",
"Unfortunately I was using the pole in the middle of a field.",
"Despite several days of rain, the ground was too hard to get a stake in the ground more than a few inches.",
"So I wound up trying to guy the pole.",
"The downward pressure needed to get the pole plumb (vertical) seemed to cause the pole to collapse.",
"Several pole sections became jammed and impossible to get released.",
"Others have noted that the pole will come crashing down in spite of being locked in with the twisting motion as described in the instructions.",
"In order to overcome the poles from coming unlocked I ordered some gaffers tape at a cost of $17 - as others recommended.",
"Unfortunately the gaffers tape did not hold the sections together.",
"Others have written that duct tape just makes a mess.",
"I am note sure how to overcome the pole sections coming loose or getting the pole plumb.",
"I spent $47 on a 1/2\" diameter 5 foot soil probe to try and get a stake in the ground to hold the pole vertical without the need for guying or to at least get the pole vertical on hard ground.",
"Perhaps this pole is best used attached attached to a post, not in the middle of a field.",
"I thought that this pole would be a good idea after installing it in my yard for 24 hours.",
"I'm not so sure now.",
"But I am out too much money to give up on it.",
"I am thinking that I should have gotten an aluminum military mast instead."
]
|
I bought this because it seemed extremely inexpensive, and I see that it was for a reason.
I will go through the products one by one:
Mascara- there is a black side and a brown side. Neither give any sort of volume or definition, it just kind of clumps up and sits there. The wand is short and stubby, not long enough to add definition at all.
Eyeshadow- These eyeshadows LOOK nice and the color payoff looks great initially, but once you put them on you see that they don't last long at all, even with an eye shadow primer. The shadows crease and seem to just fade away during the day, no matter what I have tried.
Eyeliners- This comes with two eyeliners. One is black and one is like a highlighter color. The highlighter color provides basically no payoff at all, and the black liner simply smears and bleeds, doesn't last at all.
This seems like a good deal, but really, it's not. There is a reason why it's so inexpensive. | 0 | negative | [
"I bought this because it seemed extremely inexpensive, and I see that it was for a reason.",
"I will go through the products one by one:\nMascara- there is a black side and a brown side.",
"Neither give any sort of volume or definition, it just kind of clumps up and sits there.",
"The wand is short and stubby, not long enough to add definition at all.",
"Eyeshadow- These eyeshadows LOOK nice and the color payoff looks great initially, but once you put them on you see that they don't last long at all, even with an eye shadow primer.",
"The shadows crease and seem to just fade away during the day, no matter what I have tried.",
"Eyeliners- This comes with two eyeliners.",
"One is black and one is like a highlighter color.",
"The highlighter color provides basically no payoff at all, and the black liner simply smears and bleeds, doesn't last at all.",
"This seems like a good deal, but really, it's not.",
"There is a reason why it's so inexpensive."
]
|
I have given WDL Thunder Tanks an adequate amount of gameplay, but I have not been overly impressed with it.
The missions vary from level to level, and there are plenty of cool tanks to choose from. Some of the tanks, such as the one with the flamethrower needs to be seen. The heat effect was pretty impressive. Aside from this I didn't think the graphics were all that mindblowing.
In addition, the gameplay is what falters on WDL. After playing through several levels, the gameplay becomes pretty repetitive, and some of the missions get to be a little confusing.
Bottomline, if you like mindless games where you can blow stuff up, you may enjoy this. To me, the repetitive gameplay only made this game worthy of a rental and nothing more.
Not Recommended! | 1 | neutral | [
"I have given WDL Thunder Tanks an adequate amount of gameplay, but I have not been overly impressed with it.",
"The missions vary from level to level, and there are plenty of cool tanks to choose from.",
"Some of the tanks, such as the one with the flamethrower needs to be seen.",
"The heat effect was pretty impressive.",
"Aside from this I didn't think the graphics were all that mindblowing.",
"In addition, the gameplay is what falters on WDL.",
"After playing through several levels, the gameplay becomes pretty repetitive, and some of the missions get to be a little confusing.",
"Bottomline, if you like mindless games where you can blow stuff up, you may enjoy this.",
"To me, the repetitive gameplay only made this game worthy of a rental and nothing more.",
"Not Recommended!"
]
|
Seeing Spots was the first work that I've read by this author & I'll have to say that I was quite satisfied with it. We are introduced to the two main characters, Dare & Kathy. They've known each other for close to 10 years since high school & has crushed on each other for that long. They have never acted upon it because of insecurities & thinking that the other one does not think that the other is into them. Well, that soon ends when Dare sees Kathy's leopard bra & things change FAST! Yes, this story moved VERY fast along with Dare & Kathy's relationship. But considering this is a novella, I guess it does not leave much room for development, but I would have liked a little bit more relationship development before the two protagonists begin their sexy lovin'.
This is a contemporary romantic comedy with a paranormal twist. At the end, the reader gets to find out the reason for Dare's spots fetish which was a little obvious, I think :)
This story was fun, short, & cute. It was different from other romantic novellas because Dare is not so much an 'ALPHA' like so many Heroes out there. He has insecurities and it was quite a breath of fresh air & refreshing. Overall, this is a solid 3 stars & was quite enjoyable. | 1 | neutral | [
"Seeing Spots was the first work that I've read by this author & I'll have to say that I was quite satisfied with it.",
"We are introduced to the two main characters, Dare & Kathy.",
"They've known each other for close to 10 years since high school & has crushed on each other for that long.",
"They have never acted upon it because of insecurities & thinking that the other one does not think that the other is into them.",
"Well, that soon ends when Dare sees Kathy's leopard bra & things change FAST!",
"Yes, this story moved VERY fast along with Dare & Kathy's relationship.",
"But considering this is a novella, I guess it does not leave much room for development, but I would have liked a little bit more relationship development before the two protagonists begin their sexy lovin'.",
"This is a contemporary romantic comedy with a paranormal twist.",
"At the end, the reader gets to find out the reason for Dare's spots fetish which was a little obvious, I think :)\n\nThis story was fun, short, & cute.",
"It was different from other romantic novellas because Dare is not so much an 'ALPHA' like so many Heroes out there.",
"He has insecurities and it was quite a breath of fresh air & refreshing.",
"Overall, this is a solid 3 stars & was quite enjoyable."
]
|
Ive been using Pinnacles Studio video editing software since version 9. To be honest, I never thought it ever was a great program from a technical standpoint, it was just so easy to use. Earlier versions of Studio often crashed in the middle of editing a project losing any unsaved work in the process. In 2005 Avid bought Pinnacle and really did a lot of work behind the scenes to make the product more and more stable, without making any major changes to the user interface. Avid made the product sleeker, robust and crash resistant without the user having to learn anything new. They continuously improved the product up to Studio version 15. Unfortunately, in 2012 Avid sold Pinnacle to Corel who made some changes of their own starting with Studio 16. The new interface was totally different then any other version of Studio, and loyal customers really felt betrayed by this. Studio 16 also required much more in the way of system requirements, and rendering times seemed to take longer.
Installing Pinnacle Studio 17 took about 40 minutes, but it does load a large amount of effects and transitions, which take up some space on the hard drive about two and a half gigabytes. The first time Studio 17 is run it will try to add media from your hard drive unless you uncheck the Watched Folders boxes for Public Media and Current User Media. This is kind of a nuisance if you weren't paying attention during the install and just let Studio do its thing. I doubt most users want every video and picture file on their hard drives to end up in Studios library. Make sure to check for updates once the program is installed. There is a 17.2 patch available at the time of this review.
Studio 17 does not seem much different than Studio 16, with the exception of faster rendering times. The box claims it is up to 10X faster than the previous version. The keywords are up to. My experience did not agree with the ten times claim, but at most two or three times faster. I guess with a super fast machine it might be possible to get faster results. Another added feature in Studio 17 is the ability for live screen capture, which is good for educational or instructional purposes, but most home users probably won't have a need for this.
I still have not gotten used to Corels new user interface, even though I don't think it has changed at all in Studio 17. I find it hard to navigate compared to the old Studio interface, slower, and just not very intuitive. There is still a lot to learn to figure this program out. Studio is just a ghost of what it once was, a simple, smart editing program that gave you great results. Im not finding that with Studio 17, and find it hard to recommend at this time. | 1 | neutral | [
"Ive been using Pinnacles Studio video editing software since version 9.",
"To be honest, I never thought it ever was a great program from a technical standpoint, it was just so easy to use.",
"Earlier versions of Studio often crashed in the middle of editing a project losing any unsaved work in the process.",
"In 2005 Avid bought Pinnacle and really did a lot of work behind the scenes to make the product more and more stable, without making any major changes to the user interface.",
"Avid made the product sleeker, robust and crash resistant without the user having to learn anything new.",
"They continuously improved the product up to Studio version 15.",
"Unfortunately, in 2012 Avid sold Pinnacle to Corel who made some changes of their own starting with Studio 16.",
"The new interface was totally different then any other version of Studio, and loyal customers really felt betrayed by this.",
"Studio 16 also required much more in the way of system requirements, and rendering times seemed to take longer.",
"Installing Pinnacle Studio 17 took about 40 minutes, but it does load a large amount of effects and transitions, which take up some space on the hard drive about two and a half gigabytes.",
"The first time Studio 17 is run it will try to add media from your hard drive unless you uncheck the Watched Folders boxes for Public Media and Current User Media.",
"This is kind of a nuisance if you weren't paying attention during the install and just let Studio do its thing.",
"I doubt most users want every video and picture file on their hard drives to end up in Studios library.",
"Make sure to check for updates once the program is installed.",
"There is a 17.",
"2 patch available at the time of this review.",
"Studio 17 does not seem much different than Studio 16, with the exception of faster rendering times.",
"The box claims it is up to 10X faster than the previous version.",
"The keywords are up to.",
"My experience did not agree with the ten times claim, but at most two or three times faster.",
"I guess with a super fast machine it might be possible to get faster results.",
"Another added feature in Studio 17 is the ability for live screen capture, which is good for educational or instructional purposes, but most home users probably won't have a need for this.",
"I still have not gotten used to Corels new user interface, even though I don't think it has changed at all in Studio 17.",
"I find it hard to navigate compared to the old Studio interface, slower, and just not very intuitive.",
"There is still a lot to learn to figure this program out.",
"Studio is just a ghost of what it once was, a simple, smart editing program that gave you great results.",
"Im not finding that with Studio 17, and find it hard to recommend at this time."
]
|
I have very sensitive skin. Meaningful Beauty did burn when I put it on, not horribly but my face definitely felt hot. It continued for about thirty minutes. I was careful not to get it near my eyes. Does this work, well my skin felt smoother. I did not notice any difference in fine lines but my face was soft and felt hydrated. I used this only at night as it caused my face to also become red for about an hour when I applied it under my make up.
The capsules are easy to open and you only need one. This goes on well and you do not need more than the amount in the little capsule. This is convenient and helps you with the proper amount of product. I will continue to use this at night but will not do so in the morning due to the burning sensation and red skin. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have very sensitive skin.",
"Meaningful Beauty did burn when I put it on, not horribly but my face definitely felt hot.",
"It continued for about thirty minutes.",
"I was careful not to get it near my eyes.",
"Does this work, well my skin felt smoother.",
"I did not notice any difference in fine lines but my face was soft and felt hydrated.",
"I used this only at night as it caused my face to also become red for about an hour when I applied it under my make up.",
"The capsules are easy to open and you only need one.",
"This goes on well and you do not need more than the amount in the little capsule.",
"This is convenient and helps you with the proper amount of product.",
"I will continue to use this at night but will not do so in the morning due to the burning sensation and red skin."
]
|
I bought these for a Colorado river trip. On the raft, they were comfortable and secure. The materials and stitching are good quality. Water drains out quickly. Your feet do get a bit sweaty, but not too bad. With socks, these can be good walking and hiking footwear. The fast-lace system works well, and the straps are comfy and secure around your ankle.
Now here's the problem -- and it may be a FATAL FLAW. When you walk on any kind of sand (dry or wet), the shoe fills with sand immediately. This clogs up in the front toe section and under your foot. On a river, little pebbles also get stuck in the shoe. Likewise, on muddy ground the Keens clog up immediately (within a few steps). I noticed that not a single one of the 8 guides on our 3-boat Colorado River trip had shoes like this. They all wore open-toed sandles or regular full-coverage trail-runner shoes. The gaps let the sand in but the toe prevents the sand/mud/pebbles from escaping. I do like these shoes -- for dry land use and yachting. They are comfortable for mountain biking and great for sailing. But the sand issue is a very big problem that makes these a BAD CHOICE for a beach adventure or a river trip where the banks are sandy or have small pebbles. | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought these for a Colorado river trip.",
"On the raft, they were comfortable and secure.",
"The materials and stitching are good quality.",
"Water drains out quickly.",
"Your feet do get a bit sweaty, but not too bad.",
"With socks, these can be good walking and hiking footwear.",
"The fast-lace system works well, and the straps are comfy and secure around your ankle.",
"Now here's the problem -- and it may be a FATAL FLAW.",
"When you walk on any kind of sand (dry or wet), the shoe fills with sand immediately.",
"This clogs up in the front toe section and under your foot.",
"On a river, little pebbles also get stuck in the shoe.",
"Likewise, on muddy ground the Keens clog up immediately (within a few steps).",
"I noticed that not a single one of the 8 guides on our 3-boat Colorado River trip had shoes like this.",
"They all wore open-toed sandles or regular full-coverage trail-runner shoes.",
"The gaps let the sand in but the toe prevents the sand/mud/pebbles from escaping.",
"I do like these shoes -- for dry land use and yachting.",
"They are comfortable for mountain biking and great for sailing.",
"But the sand issue is a very big problem that makes these a BAD CHOICE for a beach adventure or a river trip where the banks are sandy or have small pebbles."
]
|
Blade Runner: The Director's Cut has it's share of problems. Scott took a scene from Legend of a unicorn and inserted it into a dream sequence for Dekkard. Nevermind the fact that the scene looks forced and doesn't really fit into where he choose to put it, it does add a little to the film. I like the 'happy ending' sequence removed. What I don't like is Ford's missing narration. Big mistake. Scott claims that he didn;t originally want it in there, than why do some scenes linger on for no reason. I on an old copy on VHS (ack) that has the narration and it makes the story flow better. But the real crime here is that for the DVD, they easi;y could have added it as a seperate track and than given us the choice as to what we want.
Blade Runner is a great movie, the original cut that is. If they would combine the elemnts of the Director's Cut with the narration from the original, it would be awesome. And apparently they think so since a new version of Blade Runner is currently in production for a DVD re-release. Let's see if they get it right. | 1 | neutral | [
"Blade Runner: The Director's Cut has it's share of problems.",
"Scott took a scene from Legend of a unicorn and inserted it into a dream sequence for Dekkard.",
"Nevermind the fact that the scene looks forced and doesn't really fit into where he choose to put it, it does add a little to the film.",
"I like the 'happy ending' sequence removed.",
"What I don't like is Ford's missing narration.",
"Big mistake.",
"Scott claims that he didn;t originally want it in there, than why do some scenes linger on for no reason.",
"I on an old copy on VHS (ack) that has the narration and it makes the story flow better.",
"But the real crime here is that for the DVD, they easi;y could have added it as a seperate track and than given us the choice as to what we want.",
"Blade Runner is a great movie, the original cut that is.",
"If they would combine the elemnts of the Director's Cut with the narration from the original, it would be awesome.",
"And apparently they think so since a new version of Blade Runner is currently in production for a DVD re-release.",
"Let's see if they get it right."
]
|
This is ok. It does have Hulk Hogan,Bret Hart,Bob Backland and Bruno Sammartino in the same game. Try to top that Legends of WrestleMania! The graphics is poor and kind of cartoony but the gamplay is simple. The Career mode is you simple "beat alot of wrestlers to get the belt" Each Region has 8 to 12 storylines chosen at random with a push of a button. Each Promoter while fun,are still 1D Stereotypes. The biggest downside are the bugs,glitches,crashes and lock-ups that stop the game dead. The C.A.W mode is pretty good. The songs in the game are pretty good to dance and listin to. The A.I. is also bad. It also has many types of matches like 8 man tag,6 man tag,steel cage,1 on 1,2 on 2 tag,battle royal and many more. Overall,it's not great but pretty good. I give this game a 5 out of 10. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is ok.",
"It does have Hulk Hogan,Bret Hart,Bob Backland and Bruno Sammartino in the same game.",
"Try to top that Legends of WrestleMania!",
"The graphics is poor and kind of cartoony but the gamplay is simple.",
"The Career mode is you simple \"beat alot of wrestlers to get the belt\" Each Region has 8 to 12 storylines chosen at random with a push of a button.",
"Each Promoter while fun,are still 1D Stereotypes.",
"The biggest downside are the bugs,glitches,crashes and lock-ups that stop the game dead.",
"The C.",
"A.W mode is pretty good.",
"The songs in the game are pretty good to dance and listin to.",
"The A.",
"I. is also bad.",
"It also has many types of matches like 8 man tag,6 man tag,steel cage,1 on 1,2 on 2 tag,battle royal and many more.",
"Overall,it's not great but pretty good.",
"I give this game a 5 out of 10."
]
|
Well this one was hard for me... And it's harder to write the review because I'm not sure how I feel?? So I'm going to list what I liked & disliked.
My dislikes:
1. There was definitely too much sex.
2. It felt like the story was unfinished or maybe wrapped up too quickly?? I just needed more in the ending.
3. For the length of the book it felt like there wasn't enough story.
4. The first 50% of the story was too slow for me.
Likes:
1. There was a lot of potential here for a great story.
2. I loved the Hero Clint, he was a sexy, loving, demanding Alpha!
3. I loved the Heroine Jenna, although she lived through a nightmare she was sweet, loving, kind and still had some fight in her.
4. The second half of this book picked up and the story became more intriguing.
5. I loved seeing the characters from books 1&2 in this series.
I do plan on reading book 4 because I really liked book 1 & 2 in this series.
Overall although I loved the characters in this book and their story had great potential, I have to say the book didn't grab my attention and hold it. | 1 | neutral | [
"Well this one was hard for me...",
"And it's harder to write the review because I'm not sure how I feel??",
"So I'm going to list what I liked & disliked.",
"My dislikes:\n\n1.",
"There was definitely too much sex.",
"2.",
"It felt like the story was unfinished or maybe wrapped up too quickly??",
"I just needed more in the ending.",
"3.",
"For the length of the book it felt like there wasn't enough story.",
"4.",
"The first 50% of the story was too slow for me.",
"Likes:\n\n1.",
"There was a lot of potential here for a great story.",
"2.",
"I loved the Hero Clint, he was a sexy, loving, demanding Alpha!",
"3.",
"I loved the Heroine Jenna, although she lived through a nightmare she was sweet, loving, kind and still had some fight in her.",
"4.",
"The second half of this book picked up and the story became more intriguing.",
"5.",
"I loved seeing the characters from books 1&2 in this series.",
"I do plan on reading book 4 because I really liked book 1 & 2 in this series.",
"Overall although I loved the characters in this book and their story had great potential, I have to say the book didn't grab my attention and hold it."
]
|
Now I want to give this a 3.5 but they won't let me, Now there are a few problems I had with the game. 1- the graphics should have been better,but the Pred models look amazing. The gameplay lacks in a few departments but overall I was quicte happy with the game, I mean was I started and learned the movies in about 10 mins , the game comes second nature to ya. Now it may be different for people who have never seen a predator movie,game,comic etc. before because that extra'knowledge' makes you a better hunter in the game.
Most of the game you need to determine how to hunt your prey the right way and thata what will make or brake you in this game. Some enemies need to be snuck up on stealth style, others need brute force to be beaten and others need to be sniped from long range. Its up to you to figure out the best way. An easy way to do that is to go into first person view( down on the D-pad) the pull the left trigger to lock on to an enemy, then depending on wich vision mode your in( thermal,tech,Neuro).Each will give you info on your locked on enemy after 3 or 4 seconds so you can determine there weaknesses tec.
Theres lots of great classic predator 'kills' in the game like d caps, inpales, body spliting, limb ripping etc. that are done by sneaking up behind an enemy while cloaked ,lock on to them in 3rd person then once you close enough a skull outlined in blue will appear over there head then simply press the X button(light attack) and the kill annimations take place. Cool stuff.
Now the Pred contraols quite well I must say like jumping up onto 3 story buildings with ease, tearing through enemies with upgraded weapons is a blast. There are 23 weapons , thats including there upgraded and unlocked versions of them selves. 7 costumes to unlock and 23 levels to beat.
Now after beating the game once dosnt leave a whole lot of reason the play it a few more times through, but some people like myself will have alot of fun with the game that they will play it through again on a harder difficulty.
Now I have also been told some people have troublewith the camera, you can switch between inverted and non for both horizontal and vertical, and chage the way the rest of the buttons are alyed out til you like them.
All in all I have had a great deal of fun playing ,unlocking,upgrading and beating this game. I urge every pred fan out there to at least pick this game up for a spin, I doubt you will be dissapointed. There are some minor problems but once you play the game for some time you'll become very used to the controls and camera work that you will be hunting,stalking and killing pesky humans like a pro hunter from another world. Just make sure you scan your prey once in awile to make sure your not killing unhonorable prey but only the strong aggressive hostile honorable prey you need to hunt. Because if you kill to many inocents you will fail the missions. | 1 | neutral | [
"Now I want to give this a 3.",
"5 but they won't let me, Now there are a few problems I had with the game.",
"1- the graphics should have been better,but the Pred models look amazing.",
"The gameplay lacks in a few departments but overall I was quicte happy with the game, I mean was I started and learned the movies in about 10 mins , the game comes second nature to ya.",
"Now it may be different for people who have never seen a predator movie,game,comic etc.",
"before because that extra'knowledge' makes you a better hunter in the game.",
"Most of the game you need to determine how to hunt your prey the right way and thata what will make or brake you in this game.",
"Some enemies need to be snuck up on stealth style, others need brute force to be beaten and others need to be sniped from long range.",
"Its up to you to figure out the best way.",
"An easy way to do that is to go into first person view( down on the D-pad) the pull the left trigger to lock on to an enemy, then depending on wich vision mode your in( thermal,tech,Neuro).",
"Each will give you info on your locked on enemy after 3 or 4 seconds so you can determine there weaknesses tec.",
"Theres lots of great classic predator 'kills' in the game like d caps, inpales, body spliting, limb ripping etc.",
"that are done by sneaking up behind an enemy while cloaked ,lock on to them in 3rd person then once you close enough a skull outlined in blue will appear over there head then simply press the X button(light attack) and the kill annimations take place.",
"Cool stuff.",
"Now the Pred contraols quite well I must say like jumping up onto 3 story buildings with ease, tearing through enemies with upgraded weapons is a blast.",
"There are 23 weapons , thats including there upgraded and unlocked versions of them selves.",
"7 costumes to unlock and 23 levels to beat.",
"Now after beating the game once dosnt leave a whole lot of reason the play it a few more times through, but some people like myself will have alot of fun with the game that they will play it through again on a harder difficulty.",
"Now I have also been told some people have troublewith the camera, you can switch between inverted and non for both horizontal and vertical, and chage the way the rest of the buttons are alyed out til you like them.",
"All in all I have had a great deal of fun playing ,unlocking,upgrading and beating this game.",
"I urge every pred fan out there to at least pick this game up for a spin, I doubt you will be dissapointed.",
"There are some minor problems but once you play the game for some time you'll become very used to the controls and camera work that you will be hunting,stalking and killing pesky humans like a pro hunter from another world.",
"Just make sure you scan your prey once in awile to make sure your not killing unhonorable prey but only the strong aggressive hostile honorable prey you need to hunt.",
"Because if you kill to many inocents you will fail the missions."
]
|
Quality-wise, these are decent. They are about the size and consistency of post cards with a glossy picture. The pictures are of real people doing the occupations which takes up the whole front of the card.
As for the educational efficacy, I'm not sure how useful these are. I've studied many languages, both in an academic setting and on my own (Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Hindi, Russian, Quechua, German). Of course, everyone learns differently, but I've always used flashcards as an integral part of my studies. Personally, I find it hard to concentrate on the one language I'm studying with 16 other languages on the back. If you are trying to learn one of the languages in the middle of the list, I think it would be extra confusing.
I do like that it has the proper spellings for languages that use non-Latin alphabets/characters and then has the phonetic spelling in parentheses next to it.)
One nitpick, this set advertises that is uses the "top 17 languages". I'm quite curious as to what metric they are using to define "top 17 languages" that excludes Hindi. | 1 | neutral | [
"Quality-wise, these are decent.",
"They are about the size and consistency of post cards with a glossy picture.",
"The pictures are of real people doing the occupations which takes up the whole front of the card.",
"As for the educational efficacy, I'm not sure how useful these are.",
"I've studied many languages, both in an academic setting and on my own (Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Hindi, Russian, Quechua, German).",
"Of course, everyone learns differently, but I've always used flashcards as an integral part of my studies.",
"Personally, I find it hard to concentrate on the one language I'm studying with 16 other languages on the back.",
"If you are trying to learn one of the languages in the middle of the list, I think it would be extra confusing.",
"I do like that it has the proper spellings for languages that use non-Latin alphabets/characters and then has the phonetic spelling in parentheses next to it.",
")\n\nOne nitpick, this set advertises that is uses the \"top 17 languages\".",
"I'm quite curious as to what metric they are using to define \"top 17 languages\" that excludes Hindi."
]
|
As everyone knows, pant sizes always vary. For context I wear Dickies double knee work pants for work which are a size 34x32 that fit a little snug. Same with jeans, size 34 waist fit a little snug, but 36s damn near fall off if anything heavy is in the pocket. So when I ordered these pants for a Jason Voorhees costume, I decided to just get a 36x32 so it would fit a little loose and Id just wear a belt. Unfortunately when it arrived, I couldn't even zip them up they were so tight, and the ends of the pants were like a solid few inches from hooking together, so there was so sucking it in to connect.
These pair of pants run really small. I went to the mall down the road to see if I could find a pair of these pants in a larger size, which they had but not in this silver color that I needed. So I test fitted the pants they did have and the sizes didn't get comfortable until I hit a 40 waist. Thats ridiculous, in the same brand I fit a 34. If you order these, get at least a size or two larger. Only reason Im giving three stars is because with Prime, I got them pretty fast. Ive place another order for a 40x32 in silver, hopefully there won't be any tomfoolery | 1 | neutral | [
"As everyone knows, pant sizes always vary.",
"For context I wear Dickies double knee work pants for work which are a size 34x32 that fit a little snug.",
"Same with jeans, size 34 waist fit a little snug, but 36s damn near fall off if anything heavy is in the pocket.",
"So when I ordered these pants for a Jason Voorhees costume, I decided to just get a 36x32 so it would fit a little loose and Id just wear a belt.",
"Unfortunately when it arrived, I couldn't even zip them up they were so tight, and the ends of the pants were like a solid few inches from hooking together, so there was so sucking it in to connect.",
"These pair of pants run really small.",
"I went to the mall down the road to see if I could find a pair of these pants in a larger size, which they had but not in this silver color that I needed.",
"So I test fitted the pants they did have and the sizes didn't get comfortable until I hit a 40 waist.",
"Thats ridiculous, in the same brand I fit a 34.",
"If you order these, get at least a size or two larger.",
"Only reason Im giving three stars is because with Prime, I got them pretty fast.",
"Ive place another order for a 40x32 in silver, hopefully there won't be any tomfoolery"
]
|
Let me start by saying that this is a beautiful machine and is very easy to clean and disassemble. On the other hand, everything I juice turns into a foamy mess. I expected clear apple juice, not foamy apple juice. I'm sure it's a lovely machine if you make carrot and spinach juice and all that, but I bought it for the sole purpose of making apple juice and other fruit juices (maybe strawberry kiwi or something like that) and I don't want my juice all foamy. Plus, the directions say to drink the juice warm. I'm not a fan of warm juice. I appreciate that some people are way into the juicing lifestyle, but I just like natural fruit juice and wanted to make my own. Plus, the amount of fruit it takes for one cup of juice (half a bag of apples) is kind of ridiculous. This is my first juicer, so I have no others to compare it to, but it seemed to me there was an awful lot of pulp in the machine when I was finished, thus a ton of waste. I have no use for the pulp so it seems silly to go to all the work of juicing and buying tons of bags of apples when you can just buy it in the store. I know it's not as pure from the grocery store, but still. This machine is obviously not for me. | 1 | neutral | [
"Let me start by saying that this is a beautiful machine and is very easy to clean and disassemble.",
"On the other hand, everything I juice turns into a foamy mess.",
"I expected clear apple juice, not foamy apple juice.",
"I'm sure it's a lovely machine if you make carrot and spinach juice and all that, but I bought it for the sole purpose of making apple juice and other fruit juices (maybe strawberry kiwi or something like that) and I don't want my juice all foamy.",
"Plus, the directions say to drink the juice warm.",
"I'm not a fan of warm juice.",
"I appreciate that some people are way into the juicing lifestyle, but I just like natural fruit juice and wanted to make my own.",
"Plus, the amount of fruit it takes for one cup of juice (half a bag of apples) is kind of ridiculous.",
"This is my first juicer, so I have no others to compare it to, but it seemed to me there was an awful lot of pulp in the machine when I was finished, thus a ton of waste.",
"I have no use for the pulp so it seems silly to go to all the work of juicing and buying tons of bags of apples when you can just buy it in the store.",
"I know it's not as pure from the grocery store, but still.",
"This machine is obviously not for me."
]
|
This item better than the air canister sprays to keep cats off tabletops, counters, and furniture. If you have a flat surface you want to keep cats away from, definitely choose this deterrent over the spray canisters. I found the cats now fear whatever surface I put this on even if the mat is no longer there. Unlike the air canister, my cats learned to just look for the canister. Once I remove the canister, they will just go back to their old habits and pretend it was never there in the first place.
I find the medium setting works best for cats over 5 pounds. The low setting seems too weak.
The only draw back is the mats don't always come in the right size and I can't just buy a bigger size and "fold" it up since that would trigger the contacts. It gets expensive to have to buy all the different sizes. I have a long wide mat for my sofa seats and a long skinny mat for the sofa back cushions that my cats love to lay on top of but they are not long enough to cover all 3 cushions. For counter tops, I would need a smaller mat. Also if I don't lay the mats flat, they like to go off so I always worry about the battery depleting prematurely. Overall this product works and I definitely recommend for flat surfaces.
Update:My cats are too smart, they now treat this mat the same as air canisters. If it's there, they won't touch it. If it's not there, they climb. Ultimately, it doesn't work to train a bad cat new tricks. | 1 | neutral | [
"This item better than the air canister sprays to keep cats off tabletops, counters, and furniture.",
"If you have a flat surface you want to keep cats away from, definitely choose this deterrent over the spray canisters.",
"I found the cats now fear whatever surface I put this on even if the mat is no longer there.",
"Unlike the air canister, my cats learned to just look for the canister.",
"Once I remove the canister, they will just go back to their old habits and pretend it was never there in the first place.",
"I find the medium setting works best for cats over 5 pounds.",
"The low setting seems too weak.",
"The only draw back is the mats don't always come in the right size and I can't just buy a bigger size and \"fold\" it up since that would trigger the contacts.",
"It gets expensive to have to buy all the different sizes.",
"I have a long wide mat for my sofa seats and a long skinny mat for the sofa back cushions that my cats love to lay on top of but they are not long enough to cover all 3 cushions.",
"For counter tops, I would need a smaller mat.",
"Also if I don't lay the mats flat, they like to go off so I always worry about the battery depleting prematurely.",
"Overall this product works and I definitely recommend for flat surfaces.",
"Update:My cats are too smart, they now treat this mat the same as air canisters.",
"If it's there, they won't touch it.",
"If it's not there, they climb.",
"Ultimately, it doesn't work to train a bad cat new tricks."
]
|
This is a good machine by Brothers for the price. It came with a few attachments which, I which I am sure will be most useful. I do like the machine it has many features that are helpful to many projects. The manual is helpful and quite detailed.
My previous machine (Singer) did not have these issues. I had it for over 30 years, as with anything time, wear and tear take a toll on it and could not get the simplest of parts for it no longer. Hence the need for a new machine. It was also better constructed with metal casing and parts. Not the cost cutting plastic that things are made of these days.
However, I have encountered a few drawbacks to this machine. I have not figured out why the tension on this model will not work correctly. It keeps loosing it strength no matter how, I adjust the tension. I have rest all dials, remove the bobbin and re-thread over and over again to get it back to where it was. This is most annoying and inconvenient especially when trying to complete my projects. In addition the secondary spool spindle will not stay in its hole. I put the spool of thread on it, as soon as I start sewing it pops off the machine. The only option, I can see to fix that would be gluing the spindle to the machine. It also makes a thumping sound when sewing at higher speed. Overall if your budget is tight and you need a machine this is a good one for its price. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is a good machine by Brothers for the price.",
"It came with a few attachments which, I which I am sure will be most useful.",
"I do like the machine it has many features that are helpful to many projects.",
"The manual is helpful and quite detailed.",
"My previous machine (Singer) did not have these issues.",
"I had it for over 30 years, as with anything time, wear and tear take a toll on it and could not get the simplest of parts for it no longer.",
"Hence the need for a new machine.",
"It was also better constructed with metal casing and parts.",
"Not the cost cutting plastic that things are made of these days.",
"However, I have encountered a few drawbacks to this machine.",
"I have not figured out why the tension on this model will not work correctly.",
"It keeps loosing it strength no matter how, I adjust the tension.",
"I have rest all dials, remove the bobbin and re-thread over and over again to get it back to where it was.",
"This is most annoying and inconvenient especially when trying to complete my projects.",
"In addition the secondary spool spindle will not stay in its hole.",
"I put the spool of thread on it, as soon as I start sewing it pops off the machine.",
"The only option, I can see to fix that would be gluing the spindle to the machine.",
"It also makes a thumping sound when sewing at higher speed.",
"Overall if your budget is tight and you need a machine this is a good one for its price."
]
|
Well, it's just about exactly the same as NASCAR Thunder 2004, so my review is short. It's acceptable to me, but I never have had any of the older Papyrus versions. EA Games does not make a simulator, it has never produced a simulator. It makes Arcade games. This one gives you a taste of NASCAR and for me it's just fine, but it gets old fairly fast driving on a silly circle track.
.
I would love to try the Papyrus NASCAR 2003, but I'm not about to spend $50-$100 bucks for an old game. I'm just not a sim kind of guy. This one works fine for us poor folk that just use a game pad. Actually the controls are better than in NASCAR Thunder 2004. The sounds are not as good, but I think between the two, I will keep this one and get rid of NASCAR Thunder 2004. | 1 | neutral | [
"Well, it's just about exactly the same as NASCAR Thunder 2004, so my review is short.",
"It's acceptable to me, but I never have had any of the older Papyrus versions.",
"EA Games does not make a simulator, it has never produced a simulator.",
"It makes Arcade games.",
"This one gives you a taste of NASCAR and for me it's just fine, but it gets old fairly fast driving on a silly circle track.",
".",
"I would love to try the Papyrus NASCAR 2003, but I'm not about to spend $50-$100 bucks for an old game.",
"I'm just not a sim kind of guy.",
"This one works fine for us poor folk that just use a game pad.",
"Actually the controls are better than in NASCAR Thunder 2004.",
"The sounds are not as good, but I think between the two, I will keep this one and get rid of NASCAR Thunder 2004."
]
|
I waited along time for this game. I took off from work bought a 12 pack and planned on playing the best gam ever. Im not going to say Im disappointed. Maybe after the last 3 GTA's I was expecting to much. The game looks beautiful, the voice acting is excellant but the missions are already becoming boring. They seem to lack creativity, every mission I have done so far has been pretty much - find the target and kill them or give someone a ride. The online game is insanely fun but seems to lag alot. I think 16 players may be too much for the server. Alll in all, I would recommend buying this game. It is a fun game but just not as fun as I would have liked. I will probably be back to COD4 very soon. Also, I think alot of reviews up here are tempted to give great reviews because they have convinced themselves this game was going to be great before it came out. I don't know...seems like GTA 3 was better, but I haven't finished this one so maybe Im jumping the gun. | 1 | neutral | [
"I waited along time for this game.",
"I took off from work bought a 12 pack and planned on playing the best gam ever.",
"Im not going to say Im disappointed.",
"Maybe after the last 3 GTA's I was expecting to much.",
"The game looks beautiful, the voice acting is excellant but the missions are already becoming boring.",
"They seem to lack creativity, every mission I have done so far has been pretty much - find the target and kill them or give someone a ride.",
"The online game is insanely fun but seems to lag alot.",
"I think 16 players may be too much for the server.",
"Alll in all, I would recommend buying this game.",
"It is a fun game but just not as fun as I would have liked.",
"I will probably be back to COD4 very soon.",
"Also, I think alot of reviews up here are tempted to give great reviews because they have convinced themselves this game was going to be great before it came out.",
"I don't know...",
"seems like GTA 3 was better, but I haven't finished this one so maybe Im jumping the gun."
]
|
I got this tape to replace a worn out Evans Rule tape measure. Evans Rule was bought out by the L. S. Starrett Company in 1986. The old Evans was 3/4" wide. It is almost impossible to find a 25' or 30' tape these days that is 3/4" wide. I liked the narrower tape for its flexibility. 1" wide tapes are a bit too stiff for my tastes. It's just one of my eccentricities, but I miss the 3/4" tapes. This Stanley is certainly heavy duty and should last a long time, so it's worth a 3-star OK rating in my book. | 1 | neutral | [
"I got this tape to replace a worn out Evans Rule tape measure.",
"Evans Rule was bought out by the L.",
"S.",
"Starrett Company in 1986.",
"The old Evans was 3/4\" wide.",
"It is almost impossible to find a 25' or 30' tape these days that is 3/4\" wide.",
"I liked the narrower tape for its flexibility.",
"1\" wide tapes are a bit too stiff for my tastes.",
"It's just one of my eccentricities, but I miss the 3/4\" tapes.",
"This Stanley is certainly heavy duty and should last a long time, so it's worth a 3-star OK rating in my book."
]
|
I am half way through this book and already find it difficult to follow.
There are simply way too many calculations and "rules" thoughts. Some things "count", some things don't.
I use a food tracker which shows my simple calaories in the terms of grams of fats, proteins, & carbies. I looked at this book and their totals and could not figure out what was ok and what was not. Of course a tracker does not state what it acceptable and what it not".
I have read a lot of diet books. I can tell that this is a relatively low-fat, quasi-South Beach diet.
So far I totally disagree with the statement that sugar substitutes are ok. They are not - do your research.
The book has at least explained why the South Beach types diets may work (but avoid the 2003 version of South Beach).
I also think she allows too much refined products such as white bread.
I did find some useful information such as how to tell a good brand of supplement.
I will continue to read or at least skim this book for useful information.
I'm glad I got it relatively inexpensively (Amazon) because I don't see all that much different or useable here. | 1 | neutral | [
"I am half way through this book and already find it difficult to follow.",
"There are simply way too many calculations and \"rules\" thoughts.",
"Some things \"count\", some things don't.",
"I use a food tracker which shows my simple calaories in the terms of grams of fats, proteins, & carbies.",
"I looked at this book and their totals and could not figure out what was ok and what was not.",
"Of course a tracker does not state what it acceptable and what it not\".",
"I have read a lot of diet books.",
"I can tell that this is a relatively low-fat, quasi-South Beach diet.",
"So far I totally disagree with the statement that sugar substitutes are ok.",
"They are not - do your research.",
"The book has at least explained why the South Beach types diets may work (but avoid the 2003 version of South Beach).",
"I also think she allows too much refined products such as white bread.",
"I did find some useful information such as how to tell a good brand of supplement.",
"I will continue to read or at least skim this book for useful information.",
"I'm glad I got it relatively inexpensively (Amazon) because I don't see all that much different or useable here."
]
|
I have owned three of these flashlights over a span of about two years, and have used it in a variety of conditions--everything from neighborhood walks to camping to contracting work. I am a flashlight aficionado and truly put them to the test. Here's what I've found...
The Good:
This flashlight puts out an astonishing amount of light. It's a great flood beam that really reaches far. It lights up the whole garage easily. It projects quite impressively into caves and tunnels. The switch works great, it's easy to operate, and is a nice size and shape. The oblong tube resists rolling and makes it easy to hold in difficult situations (like pinching it between your chin and shoulder). And it doesn't have any of that annoying grippy rubber crap on it either. Thank goodness there are still a few products out there that aren't ruined by rubberized blister-fodder.
The Bad:
This is one of the least reliable flashlights I've ever owned. The light flickers often when it's turned on, especially when it's being shaken or moved suddenly. It seems as though the battery cavity is both too large and too long for the batteries so they're sloppy inside, you can hear them rattling around. This makes the springy contact mechanism inside work poorly which results in flickering light, and sometimes no light at all until you take the batteries out and fumble around with it a little.
I wanted this light for the long run time, but so far I have yet to run down a set of batteries in this light. I end up replacing them prematurely to try to address the flickering problem. Sometimes it works sometimes not.
The lanyard eye at the tail end is a nice feature but the hole is so small I can only get a tiny string through it (and only one strand, so I can't put a loop through the hole. I have some pretty small clips and they were all too big. Plus, the hole is mounted on a rather thin tab that protrudes out the back, so even if the hole were bigger, I'd be afraid of breaking it off if I attached anything rigid to it.
In Summary:
Great light, when it works. If it worked better it would be my go-to flashlight for just about everything. Unfortunately, since it's so flaky I only use it for casual purposes now. I take my Princeton Tec flashlights for mission critical work. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have owned three of these flashlights over a span of about two years, and have used it in a variety of conditions--everything from neighborhood walks to camping to contracting work.",
"I am a flashlight aficionado and truly put them to the test.",
"Here's what I've found...",
"The Good:\n\nThis flashlight puts out an astonishing amount of light.",
"It's a great flood beam that really reaches far.",
"It lights up the whole garage easily.",
"It projects quite impressively into caves and tunnels.",
"The switch works great, it's easy to operate, and is a nice size and shape.",
"The oblong tube resists rolling and makes it easy to hold in difficult situations (like pinching it between your chin and shoulder).",
"And it doesn't have any of that annoying grippy rubber crap on it either.",
"Thank goodness there are still a few products out there that aren't ruined by rubberized blister-fodder.",
"The Bad:\n\nThis is one of the least reliable flashlights I've ever owned.",
"The light flickers often when it's turned on, especially when it's being shaken or moved suddenly.",
"It seems as though the battery cavity is both too large and too long for the batteries so they're sloppy inside, you can hear them rattling around.",
"This makes the springy contact mechanism inside work poorly which results in flickering light, and sometimes no light at all until you take the batteries out and fumble around with it a little.",
"I wanted this light for the long run time, but so far I have yet to run down a set of batteries in this light.",
"I end up replacing them prematurely to try to address the flickering problem.",
"Sometimes it works sometimes not.",
"The lanyard eye at the tail end is a nice feature but the hole is so small I can only get a tiny string through it (and only one strand, so I can't put a loop through the hole.",
"I have some pretty small clips and they were all too big.",
"Plus, the hole is mounted on a rather thin tab that protrudes out the back, so even if the hole were bigger, I'd be afraid of breaking it off if I attached anything rigid to it.",
"In Summary:\n\nGreat light, when it works.",
"If it worked better it would be my go-to flashlight for just about everything.",
"Unfortunately, since it's so flaky I only use it for casual purposes now.",
"I take my Princeton Tec flashlights for mission critical work."
]
|
This feeder is really well made and sturdy. It's made out of metal and collapses nicely if you want to store it(which I never do). The design is great for many birds to enjoy eating at the same time. It holds a ton of seed--5 lbs (so you don't have to fill it frequently)! This is great at long as it is not wet out or you can put it under some sort of cover. I also found it irritating to fill. It was hard to do by myself.
The packaging says that you can use the black Oil Seeds or a seed mix. I tried using the seed mix that has a ton of the black oil seeds in it thinking they would help it not to pour out of the holes easily. It was ridiculous. I would not recommend using anything other that the sunflower/black oil seeds. This is a descent feeder but it is just not the best for my situation. I will stick to the feeders that keep the see dry yet hold large amounts. | 1 | neutral | [
"This feeder is really well made and sturdy.",
"It's made out of metal and collapses nicely if you want to store it(which I never do).",
"The design is great for many birds to enjoy eating at the same time.",
"It holds a ton of seed--5 lbs (so you don't have to fill it frequently)!",
"This is great at long as it is not wet out or you can put it under some sort of cover.",
"I also found it irritating to fill.",
"It was hard to do by myself.",
"The packaging says that you can use the black Oil Seeds or a seed mix.",
"I tried using the seed mix that has a ton of the black oil seeds in it thinking they would help it not to pour out of the holes easily.",
"It was ridiculous.",
"I would not recommend using anything other that the sunflower/black oil seeds.",
"This is a descent feeder but it is just not the best for my situation.",
"I will stick to the feeders that keep the see dry yet hold large amounts."
]
|
Part 4 is an ok horror movie that has the biggest body count of all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. The kids that survived Part 3 are back in school with a new pack of kids that Freddy will tear apart. They don't last. Freddy easily kills the first two dream warriors and is set to kill Kristen when Kristen gives her powers to kill Freddy to a new Nightmare heroine Alice. Freddy is more of a comedian then ever. In my opinion he cracked one two many one-liners in this film and not enough time trying to be scary. That is my biggest complaint of this film. It doesn't try to be scary. It just tries to show us another Freddy film with no real reason to do so. Alot of the deaths that Freddy commits in this film are quite original and some are just plain gross(like the cockroach girl). Robert England and Lisa Wilcox are great as the villain and hero. This film also has the most gory Freddy kill. You will actually see the soles that Freddy keeps inside him rip out of the clawed killer. | 1 | neutral | [
"Part 4 is an ok horror movie that has the biggest body count of all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.",
"The kids that survived Part 3 are back in school with a new pack of kids that Freddy will tear apart.",
"They don't last.",
"Freddy easily kills the first two dream warriors and is set to kill Kristen when Kristen gives her powers to kill Freddy to a new Nightmare heroine Alice.",
"Freddy is more of a comedian then ever.",
"In my opinion he cracked one two many one-liners in this film and not enough time trying to be scary.",
"That is my biggest complaint of this film.",
"It doesn't try to be scary.",
"It just tries to show us another Freddy film with no real reason to do so.",
"Alot of the deaths that Freddy commits in this film are quite original and some are just plain gross(like the cockroach girl).",
"Robert England and Lisa Wilcox are great as the villain and hero.",
"This film also has the most gory Freddy kill.",
"You will actually see the soles that Freddy keeps inside him rip out of the clawed killer."
]
|
<div id="video-block-R2K1UMGV3E9H3L" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91W2m94EO5S.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1-UoO-x6NS.png" class="video-slate-img-url"> so far, "when it works", it works fine.
Challenges so far, it shuts off for an undetermined amount of time, typically in the evening.
I live in Seattle, so it's always moist. I can't avoid "condensation" on the sensor lens - if that is the problem.
The device clearly cannot avoid getting itself wet, as that is a byproduct of its function.
If the battery getting wet from it normal operation is a problem, the device should come with a rubber ring to protect the "moisture sensitive" areas.
I am discussing it with Ortho Customer Service right now and it appears as if I have to physically mail in the battery door or print out the digital receipt to mail it to them for a refund (they don't replace units or accept digital receipts digitally). [...]
I like the product when it functions, I just want it to function all the time.
At this time, I want to give it one or two stars, but, when it works, it works fine.
I'm going to plug it up a bit (try and mitigate the moisture issue - again if that is the problem).
- - maybe some sugru in the battery compartment as a seal or silicon or something that will allow me to remove the cover but prevent backsplash.
I may move it to under a bush to avoid falling dew in the evening.
All in all, it has promise, but now that a bigger company has hold of it (Ortho), it needs improvement.
Ortho, if you're listening... please assist me with a more modern and expedited replacement option.
If I can order and receive this product in less than 24 hours, I should be able to get a replacement in at min the same amount of time at no cost. | 1 | neutral | [
"<div id=\"video-block-R2K1UMGV3E9H3L\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.",
"ssl-images-amazon.",
"com/images/I/91W2m94EO5S.",
"mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.",
"ssl-images-amazon.",
"com/images/I/A1-UoO-x6NS.",
"png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> so far, \"when it works\", it works fine.",
"Challenges so far, it shuts off for an undetermined amount of time, typically in the evening.",
"I live in Seattle, so it's always moist.",
"I can't avoid \"condensation\" on the sensor lens - if that is the problem.",
"The device clearly cannot avoid getting itself wet, as that is a byproduct of its function.",
"If the battery getting wet from it normal operation is a problem, the device should come with a rubber ring to protect the \"moisture sensitive\" areas.",
"I am discussing it with Ortho Customer Service right now and it appears as if I have to physically mail in the battery door or print out the digital receipt to mail it to them for a refund (they don't replace units or accept digital receipts digitally).",
"[...",
"]\nI like the product when it functions, I just want it to function all the time.",
"At this time, I want to give it one or two stars, but, when it works, it works fine.",
"I'm going to plug it up a bit (try and mitigate the moisture issue - again if that is the problem).",
"- - maybe some sugru in the battery compartment as a seal or silicon or something that will allow me to remove the cover but prevent backsplash.",
"I may move it to under a bush to avoid falling dew in the evening.",
"All in all, it has promise, but now that a bigger company has hold of it (Ortho), it needs improvement.",
"Ortho, if you're listening...",
"please assist me with a more modern and expedited replacement option.",
"If I can order and receive this product in less than 24 hours, I should be able to get a replacement in at min the same amount of time at no cost."
]
|
Not sure if these are more on the brass side or the bronze? Not really to my liking compared to the phospher bronze. The EXPs are nice strings. They have a nice feel to them along with less string noise. And they last. My two acoustic guitars, a Takamine Mini jumbo and a Gretsch jumbo, both made from mahogany are both nice sounding guitars. I figured i would try these 80/20 strings after using phospher bronze. Only real problem i noticed is the 80/20s seem brighter and they ring longer. I prefer the warmer tone. And since my guitars have alot of "boom" already, i don't need the extra ring to complicate the sound with overtones when strumming fast. I imagine these strings may work in some instances, but i am going back to the phospher bronze for my guitars. | 1 | neutral | [
"Not sure if these are more on the brass side or the bronze?",
"Not really to my liking compared to the phospher bronze.",
"The EXPs are nice strings.",
"They have a nice feel to them along with less string noise.",
"And they last.",
"My two acoustic guitars, a Takamine Mini jumbo and a Gretsch jumbo, both made from mahogany are both nice sounding guitars.",
"I figured i would try these 80/20 strings after using phospher bronze.",
"Only real problem i noticed is the 80/20s seem brighter and they ring longer.",
"I prefer the warmer tone.",
"And since my guitars have alot of \"boom\" already, i don't need the extra ring to complicate the sound with overtones when strumming fast.",
"I imagine these strings may work in some instances, but i am going back to the phospher bronze for my guitars."
]
|
The box wasn't as big as i thought. You have to put it all together except for the engine. You needed two wrenches but found one wrench 7/16 and a socket set worked faster. Its got a few tight places so the socket set worked faster and easier. Those are the only tools needed.
The instructions were ok but the photos were so dark you couldn't make things out well. It may have just been a bad print batch. Once all put together, the tiller is light weight to carry around. Yes, carry...there aren't any wheels to move it around. There is a thin plastic handle at the base that you lift to carry. The carry handle, while works, is too low and found my feet hitting the sharp tines while walking with it. You have to be very careful. You can purchase a "kick stand" for it at around $50 so it has a way to rest. If not, you have to lean the tiller on a wall or something or it has to lay down. You can fold the handles up but still its awkward to store.
The engine area is all plastic. For the price of this i would expect a metal casing. The choke pin looks like a golf tee and its plastic as well. The choke pin is in a bad spot to pull in and out. I wouldn't want to touch that area when its hot from running awhile. I figure it will eventually break because its plastic. There are very thin wires that are exposed near the engine and worry that they may get damaged as they aren't covered with the tubing. The large handle grips are nice and the controls are easy to use. I like that the on/off switch is also located on the handles.
Starting it is a bit awkward because you have to lay the thing down. Since there are no wheels or the kickstand on this model. there isn't a way to have it stay upright unless you find a wall of a shed or something to lean it on. You'll have to figure out a way to hold the handle bars and then tug the starting pull to get it started up. Make sure you have the fuel cap on good so the gas doesn't leak out from laying it down.
Once you do have it running its semi loud but hey its an engine so i expected it. The tiller did do a good job in getting pretty deep in the soil. The tines are very sharp so they chopped thru small weeds and roots. Speaking of roots, you have a great time cleaning them out of the tiller as they get all wound tightly between the tines. I found using the hose to clean the dirt on the tines first helped loosen the roots up making it a little easier to get them free. But its a huge pain in the...
I used to have a Yard Machines but it was leaking gas and I couldn't get it fixed. The build quality of that compared to this was so much better but it was heavier too. Not sure that the Mantis will last as long just on the build quality alone. Mine also had spots on the few places that were metal on the engine that was bent.
My sister has an electric one that was $129, and i've used it and found it to be just as good and the build quality was a bit better and it had wheels. You just have to be plugged in. You also don't smell like gas/oil after you are done using it like I did with the Mantis.
I kind of like my sisters electric one better for the ease and better build quality (and wheels) but it did lack the ability to dig deeper. We'll see how the Mantis does over the next year or so. If something should change, i'll update this review. | 1 | neutral | [
"The box wasn't as big as i thought.",
"You have to put it all together except for the engine.",
"You needed two wrenches but found one wrench 7/16 and a socket set worked faster.",
"Its got a few tight places so the socket set worked faster and easier.",
"Those are the only tools needed.",
"The instructions were ok but the photos were so dark you couldn't make things out well.",
"It may have just been a bad print batch.",
"Once all put together, the tiller is light weight to carry around.",
"Yes, carry...",
"there aren't any wheels to move it around.",
"There is a thin plastic handle at the base that you lift to carry.",
"The carry handle, while works, is too low and found my feet hitting the sharp tines while walking with it.",
"You have to be very careful.",
"You can purchase a \"kick stand\" for it at around $50 so it has a way to rest.",
"If not, you have to lean the tiller on a wall or something or it has to lay down.",
"You can fold the handles up but still its awkward to store.",
"The engine area is all plastic.",
"For the price of this i would expect a metal casing.",
"The choke pin looks like a golf tee and its plastic as well.",
"The choke pin is in a bad spot to pull in and out.",
"I wouldn't want to touch that area when its hot from running awhile.",
"I figure it will eventually break because its plastic.",
"There are very thin wires that are exposed near the engine and worry that they may get damaged as they aren't covered with the tubing.",
"The large handle grips are nice and the controls are easy to use.",
"I like that the on/off switch is also located on the handles.",
"Starting it is a bit awkward because you have to lay the thing down.",
"Since there are no wheels or the kickstand on this model.",
"there isn't a way to have it stay upright unless you find a wall of a shed or something to lean it on.",
"You'll have to figure out a way to hold the handle bars and then tug the starting pull to get it started up.",
"Make sure you have the fuel cap on good so the gas doesn't leak out from laying it down.",
"Once you do have it running its semi loud but hey its an engine so i expected it.",
"The tiller did do a good job in getting pretty deep in the soil.",
"The tines are very sharp so they chopped thru small weeds and roots.",
"Speaking of roots, you have a great time cleaning them out of the tiller as they get all wound tightly between the tines.",
"I found using the hose to clean the dirt on the tines first helped loosen the roots up making it a little easier to get them free.",
"But its a huge pain in the...",
"I used to have a Yard Machines but it was leaking gas and I couldn't get it fixed.",
"The build quality of that compared to this was so much better but it was heavier too.",
"Not sure that the Mantis will last as long just on the build quality alone.",
"Mine also had spots on the few places that were metal on the engine that was bent.",
"My sister has an electric one that was $129, and i've used it and found it to be just as good and the build quality was a bit better and it had wheels.",
"You just have to be plugged in.",
"You also don't smell like gas/oil after you are done using it like I did with the Mantis.",
"I kind of like my sisters electric one better for the ease and better build quality (and wheels) but it did lack the ability to dig deeper.",
"We'll see how the Mantis does over the next year or so.",
"If something should change, i'll update this review."
]
|
I received this software as part of the Amazon Vine Reviewer Program and thought it would be very much like <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Corel-PDF-Fusion/dp/B004TKTOWC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Corel PDF Fusion</a> which I have found to be very helpful in reading all kinds of formats, as well as converting files to PDF. What I found instead was a great program for editing and proofreading all kinds of documents, and a bit of software that can convert scanned files or files already on your computer; including photos, documents and others, into files you can easily edit.
Positives or at least not negatives for me...
This software includes a Cloud Connector. Integrated with Evernote and Dropbox, it also works with other 'clouds' in a drag n' drop way. You can upgrade the service as well for automatic back-up of your files. I thought the addition of the Cloud Connector was a nice touch, but didn't like that you had to upgrade for true integration and service.
When you scan an image and such as a paper with binder holes in it, there's a way to remove those images, which I thought was pretty nice. Scanner enhancement tools make all the scanned images ultimately look great, whether they are text or images.
One feature some may find useful is the automatic language detection. I didn't like that Russian and Greek were not supported though, as it only allows for Latin-based languages, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Seems like they could've figured out how to add the others!
Converting a 460 document to PDF took about 3 minutes, which I thought was pretty fast. The document looked like the original and the proofreader quickly checked it and asked me to change items or ignore. I liked that I could easily edit the document once converted.
NOTE RE: Kindle integration...
I then tried to send it to my Kindle, which failed and locked up the program on my Windows 7 machine three times. I never did get the document sent to the Kindle, but will keep trying.
I do like that when I have received email attachments in various forms I can then save the file in any format I choose by converting them with Omnipage 18. Images from Ipad, IPhone and digital cameras are also easily converted to a readable format for ebook readers. Something I've yet to try, but hope will work with my Kindle eventually.
Negatives for me...
My computer exceeds the minimum system requirements for this product and yet the performance of it has been choppy - 'not responding' errors throughout my usage of the product.
I have also encountered in the 'Help', 'Getting Started' guide, things that I thought I had as part of this software are actually only offered on the 'Pro' version which costs 4x's as much! Why list it at all in the 'Help' unless they want you to buy more and upgrade? I didn't like it as I wasted time reading it only to find I didn't have "Form Data Extraction", "Job Life Cycles", "Email Integration" and "Barcode Processing", among others, only to be disappointed I didn't have them.
Omnipage 18 does support a wide range of formats including WordPerfect, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, HTML and PDF, which is great. It integrates with your scanner to save files and convert them quickly into easy to manipulate documents. It is a good product when it's not acting fussy, and has promise, but so far it's just 'OK' for this user.
Perhaps when I finally get my Kindle upload done I'll be happy? Off to try it for a fourth time... | 1 | neutral | [
"I received this software as part of the Amazon Vine Reviewer Program and thought it would be very much like <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Corel-PDF-Fusion/dp/B004TKTOWC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Corel PDF Fusion</a> which I have found to be very helpful in reading all kinds of formats, as well as converting files to PDF.",
"What I found instead was a great program for editing and proofreading all kinds of documents, and a bit of software that can convert scanned files or files already on your computer; including photos, documents and others, into files you can easily edit.",
"Positives or at least not negatives for me...",
"This software includes a Cloud Connector.",
"Integrated with Evernote and Dropbox, it also works with other 'clouds' in a drag n' drop way.",
"You can upgrade the service as well for automatic back-up of your files.",
"I thought the addition of the Cloud Connector was a nice touch, but didn't like that you had to upgrade for true integration and service.",
"When you scan an image and such as a paper with binder holes in it, there's a way to remove those images, which I thought was pretty nice.",
"Scanner enhancement tools make all the scanned images ultimately look great, whether they are text or images.",
"One feature some may find useful is the automatic language detection.",
"I didn't like that Russian and Greek were not supported though, as it only allows for Latin-based languages, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.",
"Seems like they could've figured out how to add the others!",
"Converting a 460 document to PDF took about 3 minutes, which I thought was pretty fast.",
"The document looked like the original and the proofreader quickly checked it and asked me to change items or ignore.",
"I liked that I could easily edit the document once converted.",
"NOTE RE: Kindle integration...",
"I then tried to send it to my Kindle, which failed and locked up the program on my Windows 7 machine three times.",
"I never did get the document sent to the Kindle, but will keep trying.",
"I do like that when I have received email attachments in various forms I can then save the file in any format I choose by converting them with Omnipage 18.",
"Images from Ipad, IPhone and digital cameras are also easily converted to a readable format for ebook readers.",
"Something I've yet to try, but hope will work with my Kindle eventually.",
"Negatives for me...",
"My computer exceeds the minimum system requirements for this product and yet the performance of it has been choppy - 'not responding' errors throughout my usage of the product.",
"I have also encountered in the 'Help', 'Getting Started' guide, things that I thought I had as part of this software are actually only offered on the 'Pro' version which costs 4x's as much!",
"Why list it at all in the 'Help' unless they want you to buy more and upgrade?",
"I didn't like it as I wasted time reading it only to find I didn't have \"Form Data Extraction\", \"Job Life Cycles\", \"Email Integration\" and \"Barcode Processing\", among others, only to be disappointed I didn't have them.",
"Omnipage 18 does support a wide range of formats including WordPerfect, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, HTML and PDF, which is great.",
"It integrates with your scanner to save files and convert them quickly into easy to manipulate documents.",
"It is a good product when it's not acting fussy, and has promise, but so far it's just 'OK' for this user.",
"Perhaps when I finally get my Kindle upload done I'll be happy?",
"Off to try it for a fourth time..."
]
|
i have the panasonic ey6105, and at first it was fine, like finding a new flavor ice cream you like. but soo flaws emerged, the chuck did not firmly grasp the bit and hence the bit would stall in the workpiece. then the battery ended it's live way too early, perhaps after 30 or so charge cycles. and it never did hold a charge long even at first, and there was such little power delivered from the batery that little torque developed to turn thru anything but the flimsiest of material. then panasonic seems to develop new batteries without backward design leaving old models in the lurch. i have been trying to find a replacement battery with zero luck. calling panasonic did zero, they said that they did not support all models of their products. so buyer beware when the drill ages and you need parts...might as well toss.
so i refuse to buy panasonic tools, they do not measure up to real pro tools and their designed obsolescence ticks you off when they will not support what they make. and my drill is all of 1 yhear old...and useless unless i hook it up to a motorcycle battery. | 1 | neutral | [
"i have the panasonic ey6105, and at first it was fine, like finding a new flavor ice cream you like.",
"but soo flaws emerged, the chuck did not firmly grasp the bit and hence the bit would stall in the workpiece.",
"then the battery ended it's live way too early, perhaps after 30 or so charge cycles.",
"and it never did hold a charge long even at first, and there was such little power delivered from the batery that little torque developed to turn thru anything but the flimsiest of material.",
"then panasonic seems to develop new batteries without backward design leaving old models in the lurch.",
"i have been trying to find a replacement battery with zero luck.",
"calling panasonic did zero, they said that they did not support all models of their products.",
"so buyer beware when the drill ages and you need parts...",
"might as well toss.",
"so i refuse to buy panasonic tools, they do not measure up to real pro tools and their designed obsolescence ticks you off when they will not support what they make.",
"and my drill is all of 1 yhear old...",
"and useless unless i hook it up to a motorcycle battery."
]
|
If you have 9.6 tools, and I have a number of them, you need this battery. Simple as that. Is it the best in the world? No. Does it run the tool? Yes. Is it still available after all these years? Yes. End of discussion. | 1 | neutral | [
"If you have 9.",
"6 tools, and I have a number of them, you need this battery.",
"Simple as that.",
"Is it the best in the world?",
"No.",
"Does it run the tool?",
"Yes.",
"Is it still available after all these years?",
"Yes.",
"End of discussion."
]
|
I was really intrigued by the blurb so I thought I was going to love this book, but I ended up a little disappointed. At first it was really slow, and I couldn't connect with the main character. When I started to, the POV changed and I was a little confused. I became really engrossed in Cora's story and really loved Matt only to get heartbroken. Cora's story and the happy ending earned the book an extra star.
I have to admit I was a little confused as to what was happening and I was tempted to leave it, but since I hardly ever leave books unfinished, I read on and it got better when I finally understood everything. It was a lovely story and I liked the ending, but unfortunately I was never totally hooked.
I'm sorry, because I'm always intrigued by stories about life after death and near death experiences. I can't quite pinpoint what didn't work, maybe it was the way it was written, with too much storytelling and not enough dialogue/action.
I will probably give the other books in the series a chance anyway. | 1 | neutral | [
"I was really intrigued by the blurb so I thought I was going to love this book, but I ended up a little disappointed.",
"At first it was really slow, and I couldn't connect with the main character.",
"When I started to, the POV changed and I was a little confused.",
"I became really engrossed in Cora's story and really loved Matt only to get heartbroken.",
"Cora's story and the happy ending earned the book an extra star.",
"I have to admit I was a little confused as to what was happening and I was tempted to leave it, but since I hardly ever leave books unfinished, I read on and it got better when I finally understood everything.",
"It was a lovely story and I liked the ending, but unfortunately I was never totally hooked.",
"I'm sorry, because I'm always intrigued by stories about life after death and near death experiences.",
"I can't quite pinpoint what didn't work, maybe it was the way it was written, with too much storytelling and not enough dialogue/action.",
"I will probably give the other books in the series a chance anyway."
]
|
This was the first time I have ever watched TAXI DRIVER. Even though I've become a true movie buff / entrepreneur, I realize that sometimes it's better to never watch these "classic" films and simply imagine what they were like in its place and time, than watching them nowadays for the first time with expectations that won't deliver the goods. There are so many of my favorites that came from this time (the 60's) in film history. But the catch is I watched them back then, which makes me appreciate them more now, rather than watching them now, which appreciates me back then. Am I saying that TAXI DRIVER is a bad film? Not exactly. Did I really watch this movie? Indubitably!
The best part about this flick was seeing younger versions of Rupert Da Nero, Harvey Guitar and Jody "Cannon" Fodder. It's been awhile since I've seen Cyborg Sheepherder too, apparently she's been packing on the chunks over the years, but I haven't seen her myself. It was also great to see Peter Boppins (may he nap peacefully) but I'm beginning to wonder if the man ever had a full skull of working hair follicles. I love Skadaisy's work and own nearly two of his films on HD-DVD. There's no question that what he and Da Nero created here was pure brilliance at the time and again, had I watched this film way back when I was born, I would've understood this stuff much more clearly, but in this day and age a lot about the film just isn't relevant anymore (At one point the guy pays a prostitute with just a twenty dollar bill! The movie about lost me here).
A couple of positive things that really stood out in the movie were the relationship between "Slick" Travis and Ole' Bootsy and the conversation that took place between Travis and the secret service "dude" in Las Vegas. With Travis and Bootsy, well, most people would call Travis a clear-cut hopeless romantic and some of his more colourful ideas he shares with her certainly show this. But this brings me to my first issue, the dude's an underdog taxi driver and she's a successful geologist with options, I just don't see that combo ever cutting the slice. And who in their right mind takes a high society chick (or any chick) around town in a taxi on their first date? But I will say that taking her to a dirty movie was a classy move on his part, even thought she wasn't getting into it like he was. And as for the secret service guy, why did he wait so long to try and apprehend Travis? Red flags galore were going off during their poker game, more than enough to get a dude shot in the face these days, and considering how he gave the guy his real name (Henry Krinckle) and what I think was his real address (123 Fake Street), I don't understand why they weren't beating down his door with handcuffs and tasers.
TAXI DRIVER is an interesting love story, although our main protagonist is clearly supposed to be a likeable character, I had a hard time rooting for him, let alone understanding how things managed to keep working out in his favor throughout the film (except the ending, he totally got what he deserved). I do think they captured the loneliness of working in a factory right on the money, but as far as Travis being a war veteran, well I wasn't completely sold on that. The Hurt Locker was the best journey into the unstable mind of Vietnam Vets for me and I just didn't think Travis came off as that type of person. I will say this though, that all out b/a/l/l/s-to-the-walls dance off at the end was totally awesome. Hip-yeah!
*All fact checking and proof reading was done by Justin Palmure* | 1 | neutral | [
"This was the first time I have ever watched TAXI DRIVER.",
"Even though I've become a true movie buff / entrepreneur, I realize that sometimes it's better to never watch these \"classic\" films and simply imagine what they were like in its place and time, than watching them nowadays for the first time with expectations that won't deliver the goods.",
"There are so many of my favorites that came from this time (the 60's) in film history.",
"But the catch is I watched them back then, which makes me appreciate them more now, rather than watching them now, which appreciates me back then.",
"Am I saying that TAXI DRIVER is a bad film?",
"Not exactly.",
"Did I really watch this movie?",
"Indubitably!",
"The best part about this flick was seeing younger versions of Rupert Da Nero, Harvey Guitar and Jody \"Cannon\" Fodder.",
"It's been awhile since I've seen Cyborg Sheepherder too, apparently she's been packing on the chunks over the years, but I haven't seen her myself.",
"It was also great to see Peter Boppins (may he nap peacefully) but I'm beginning to wonder if the man ever had a full skull of working hair follicles.",
"I love Skadaisy's work and own nearly two of his films on HD-DVD.",
"There's no question that what he and Da Nero created here was pure brilliance at the time and again, had I watched this film way back when I was born, I would've understood this stuff much more clearly, but in this day and age a lot about the film just isn't relevant anymore (At one point the guy pays a prostitute with just a twenty dollar bill!",
"The movie about lost me here).",
"A couple of positive things that really stood out in the movie were the relationship between \"Slick\" Travis and Ole' Bootsy and the conversation that took place between Travis and the secret service \"dude\" in Las Vegas.",
"With Travis and Bootsy, well, most people would call Travis a clear-cut hopeless romantic and some of his more colourful ideas he shares with her certainly show this.",
"But this brings me to my first issue, the dude's an underdog taxi driver and she's a successful geologist with options, I just don't see that combo ever cutting the slice.",
"And who in their right mind takes a high society chick (or any chick) around town in a taxi on their first date?",
"But I will say that taking her to a dirty movie was a classy move on his part, even thought she wasn't getting into it like he was.",
"And as for the secret service guy, why did he wait so long to try and apprehend Travis?",
"Red flags galore were going off during their poker game, more than enough to get a dude shot in the face these days, and considering how he gave the guy his real name (Henry Krinckle) and what I think was his real address (123 Fake Street), I don't understand why they weren't beating down his door with handcuffs and tasers.",
"TAXI DRIVER is an interesting love story, although our main protagonist is clearly supposed to be a likeable character, I had a hard time rooting for him, let alone understanding how things managed to keep working out in his favor throughout the film (except the ending, he totally got what he deserved).",
"I do think they captured the loneliness of working in a factory right on the money, but as far as Travis being a war veteran, well I wasn't completely sold on that.",
"The Hurt Locker was the best journey into the unstable mind of Vietnam Vets for me and I just didn't think Travis came off as that type of person.",
"I will say this though, that all out b/a/l/l/s-to-the-walls dance off at the end was totally awesome.",
"Hip-yeah!",
"*All fact checking and proof reading was done by Justin Palmure*"
]
|
Everybody raves about this movie, saying that Christmas wouldn't be complete without it, and that it is Jimmy Stewart's best role.
It may have a wonderful ending, but this movie scared me as a little kid. In fact, it terrified me.
When he shows up at his house and his own wife doesn't recognize him because he had never existed, it was maybe the most terrifying thing that a young child could imagine.
And she even looks like a completely different person - a harpy, compared to his real life, sweet wife.
Up until the end, it was a dark and foreboding movie, portraying the cruelty and heartlessness of people.
And so I don't have warm and fuzzy memories of this movie, at all, nor do I even think it is a particularly good Christmas movie, in spite of the final few minutes.
He is dissuaded from jumping into the river by an angel, and says he wishes he had never been born.
How's that for warm Christmas spirit?
But people seem to love it, and their Christmas wouldn't be complete without it, and so, may they watch it in the total joy of the warm and wonderful Christmas season. | 1 | neutral | [
"Everybody raves about this movie, saying that Christmas wouldn't be complete without it, and that it is Jimmy Stewart's best role.",
"It may have a wonderful ending, but this movie scared me as a little kid.",
"In fact, it terrified me.",
"When he shows up at his house and his own wife doesn't recognize him because he had never existed, it was maybe the most terrifying thing that a young child could imagine.",
"And she even looks like a completely different person - a harpy, compared to his real life, sweet wife.",
"Up until the end, it was a dark and foreboding movie, portraying the cruelty and heartlessness of people.",
"And so I don't have warm and fuzzy memories of this movie, at all, nor do I even think it is a particularly good Christmas movie, in spite of the final few minutes.",
"He is dissuaded from jumping into the river by an angel, and says he wishes he had never been born.",
"How's that for warm Christmas spirit?",
"But people seem to love it, and their Christmas wouldn't be complete without it, and so, may they watch it in the total joy of the warm and wonderful Christmas season."
]
|
A Dozen Deadly Roses, e-book by Kathy Bennett is a police/mystery story following the daily schedule of a single mother police officer.
The prologue presents Jade Donovan, a probationary police officer on patrol with her partner, responding to a situation that leads to deadly gunplay. The story proper opens 5 years later when Jade receives another gold florist's box containing a bouquet of dead roses. She continues to receive them, each time containing one less rose.
Meanwhile, Jade is now the probationary control officer with her former partner, Mac Stryker, as her probationer. He had become an alcoholic as a result of tragically losing his wife and daughter some years before, had recovered and reapplied for officer status. The relationship is highly complicated because of their previous relationship, the existence of Jade's son, and her recovered alcoholic father who now was living with another recovered alcoholic woman. Added to the mix were a woman lieutenant who disliked Jade and a captain whom Jade had encountered in a compromising situation.
The plot is rather thin but the author handles the complicated situation well enough and provides enough interest in the protagonist to involve the reader in the often headstrong and not particularly well thought-out decisions made by the two officers. The overriding psychological baggage carried by the two makes the decisions credible.
In summary, A Dozen Deadly Roses provides an entertaining few hours. Reviewed by John H. Manhold, award winning fiction/non-fiction author. | 1 | neutral | [
"A Dozen Deadly Roses, e-book by Kathy Bennett is a police/mystery story following the daily schedule of a single mother police officer.",
"The prologue presents Jade Donovan, a probationary police officer on patrol with her partner, responding to a situation that leads to deadly gunplay.",
"The story proper opens 5 years later when Jade receives another gold florist's box containing a bouquet of dead roses.",
"She continues to receive them, each time containing one less rose.",
"Meanwhile, Jade is now the probationary control officer with her former partner, Mac Stryker, as her probationer.",
"He had become an alcoholic as a result of tragically losing his wife and daughter some years before, had recovered and reapplied for officer status.",
"The relationship is highly complicated because of their previous relationship, the existence of Jade's son, and her recovered alcoholic father who now was living with another recovered alcoholic woman.",
"Added to the mix were a woman lieutenant who disliked Jade and a captain whom Jade had encountered in a compromising situation.",
"The plot is rather thin but the author handles the complicated situation well enough and provides enough interest in the protagonist to involve the reader in the often headstrong and not particularly well thought-out decisions made by the two officers.",
"The overriding psychological baggage carried by the two makes the decisions credible.",
"In summary, A Dozen Deadly Roses provides an entertaining few hours.",
"Reviewed by John H.",
"Manhold, award winning fiction/non-fiction author."
]
|
This is my first introduction to King Diamond. It's certainly not a positive one. The lead singer (Kim Bendix Petersen) is incredibly derivative of other singers. You'll find out which ones below. Even worse, he hardly ever holds together a satisfying vocal melody. You won't remember a single line when the album is finished. The guitar riffs and solos are identical to several 80's metal bands right down to the tone and the clear impossible-to-miss lack of interesting notes.
"Black Horsemen" has a nice acoustic intro before turning metal. Same idea that Metallica and Black Sabbath had done (and in the case of Sabbath, several innovative years earlier). However I still like it. Perhaps I like it more since I know what's about to come next- generic, flat, not-at-all-heavy guitar riffage that copies the Iron Maiden style to a tee. The biggest issue however, is that Kim Bendix basically takes the style of Rob Halford of Judas Priest fame and imitates his high pitched squeal to the point of being unable to tell the difference between the innovatite style of Rob and... this. I guess if one were find a competition for singers who resemble others, Kim Bendix would win the Rob Halford prize.
Anyway, unlike Rob, Kim's vocal range sounds *severely* unnatural the way he shifts seemingly nonstop from one melody to another and doing it in the sloppiest way imaginable. The guitar riffs are generic and coated with that familiar layer of shallow cheese that illustrates guitar riffs that used to be exceptionally heavy and daring back in the day, but nowadays anything but. With all this said, I do like the first set of vocals in "Black Horsemen" for the way it clashes in intimidating fashion with the guitar riffs. It reminds me of early 80's Black Sabbath. A far cry from the Ozzy-era Sabbath of course but if one were to lower their standards and except generic metal with open arms, it works.
It should be said that I read and understand the concept of the story involving a family that moves into a mansion and has ghosts visiting them and, without revealing the entire thing, gruesome murderous duties are soon carried out. The lyrics that explain the story are never particularly creative, but they *are* suitable enough. "The 7th Day of July- 1777" has another acoustic intro that's pretty good and makes me think the band should have just remained an acoustic act instead. I *do* like the explosion into the heavy guitar riffs that soon follows, but the vocal melody loses serious steam for being average and nothing more. "Arrival" begins with a Dio-like "Holy Diver" miltary-march onslaught of guitar riffs with a vocal melody I happen to think is pretty great. Yes that's right, even though Abigail is easily a 3-star album, this song is the reason I award it an extra point. We'll just ignore the obvious Alice Cooper ripoff vocal imitation 3 minutes in. Ridiculously shallow decision on the part of Kim Bendix Petersen to rip the legendary Alice Cooper in such an unforgiveable way.
Overall, it's late 80's heavy metal with non-aggressive recording production that the 80's metal scene is now known for, giving off an unintentional poppish perception of the music. Expect the same here. I guess not everyone can be like Metallica- the only 80's metal act with a guitar style that hammers with authority. King Diamond sounds way too much like other artists to make an impression. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is my first introduction to King Diamond.",
"It's certainly not a positive one.",
"The lead singer (Kim Bendix Petersen) is incredibly derivative of other singers.",
"You'll find out which ones below.",
"Even worse, he hardly ever holds together a satisfying vocal melody.",
"You won't remember a single line when the album is finished.",
"The guitar riffs and solos are identical to several 80's metal bands right down to the tone and the clear impossible-to-miss lack of interesting notes.",
"\"Black Horsemen\" has a nice acoustic intro before turning metal.",
"Same idea that Metallica and Black Sabbath had done (and in the case of Sabbath, several innovative years earlier).",
"However I still like it.",
"Perhaps I like it more since I know what's about to come next- generic, flat, not-at-all-heavy guitar riffage that copies the Iron Maiden style to a tee.",
"The biggest issue however, is that Kim Bendix basically takes the style of Rob Halford of Judas Priest fame and imitates his high pitched squeal to the point of being unable to tell the difference between the innovatite style of Rob and...",
"this.",
"I guess if one were find a competition for singers who resemble others, Kim Bendix would win the Rob Halford prize.",
"Anyway, unlike Rob, Kim's vocal range sounds *severely* unnatural the way he shifts seemingly nonstop from one melody to another and doing it in the sloppiest way imaginable.",
"The guitar riffs are generic and coated with that familiar layer of shallow cheese that illustrates guitar riffs that used to be exceptionally heavy and daring back in the day, but nowadays anything but.",
"With all this said, I do like the first set of vocals in \"Black Horsemen\" for the way it clashes in intimidating fashion with the guitar riffs.",
"It reminds me of early 80's Black Sabbath.",
"A far cry from the Ozzy-era Sabbath of course but if one were to lower their standards and except generic metal with open arms, it works.",
"It should be said that I read and understand the concept of the story involving a family that moves into a mansion and has ghosts visiting them and, without revealing the entire thing, gruesome murderous duties are soon carried out.",
"The lyrics that explain the story are never particularly creative, but they *are* suitable enough.",
"\"The 7th Day of July- 1777\" has another acoustic intro that's pretty good and makes me think the band should have just remained an acoustic act instead.",
"I *do* like the explosion into the heavy guitar riffs that soon follows, but the vocal melody loses serious steam for being average and nothing more.",
"\"Arrival\" begins with a Dio-like \"Holy Diver\" miltary-march onslaught of guitar riffs with a vocal melody I happen to think is pretty great.",
"Yes that's right, even though Abigail is easily a 3-star album, this song is the reason I award it an extra point.",
"We'll just ignore the obvious Alice Cooper ripoff vocal imitation 3 minutes in.",
"Ridiculously shallow decision on the part of Kim Bendix Petersen to rip the legendary Alice Cooper in such an unforgiveable way.",
"Overall, it's late 80's heavy metal with non-aggressive recording production that the 80's metal scene is now known for, giving off an unintentional poppish perception of the music.",
"Expect the same here.",
"I guess not everyone can be like Metallica- the only 80's metal act with a guitar style that hammers with authority.",
"King Diamond sounds way too much like other artists to make an impression."
]
|
House of the Dead 3 lets you shoot your way through zombies. you play as a woman who is looking for her father and a guy follows you too that doesnt even do anything to help you... The game is alright, but this game has quite a handful of pros and cons...
Pros: 1. Great graphics and creepy environments
2. cool and detailed zombies and weird bosses and creatures...
3. the game gives you enough credits to actually make it a bit easier to play so that if you die, you can easily come back...
4. Storyline is pretty good, not the best though...
5. Cool cutscenes
6. you can unlock HOTD 2 and play that on the game, pretty cool feature...
Cons: 1. aiming the gun can be quite difficult especially when you have a million zombies on your a$$
2. you only have one weapon the whole game which is the shotgun.
3. The guy that follows you doesnt even help you or anything yet he is in every cutscene and seems like he is not even with you. you have to help him from getting killed yet he doesnt do nothing for you.. i mean what the ****???
4. The game is very short, you can beat it in one night if you are quite good at those type games.
5. The last boss of the game is impossible to beat and it took me over (literally) 20 tries to beat it. It is hard, i repeat it is HARD!!!!
Basically, it is a diffcult game, a short one, but the difficultness makes up for it... Even though it has some flaws and cons, i still recommend it. it is quite cheap now anyway, so if you like these shoot em up games, i recommend you get house of the dead III... | 1 | neutral | [
"House of the Dead 3 lets you shoot your way through zombies.",
"you play as a woman who is looking for her father and a guy follows you too that doesnt even do anything to help you...",
"The game is alright, but this game has quite a handful of pros and cons...",
"Pros: 1.",
"Great graphics and creepy environments\n\n2.",
"cool and detailed zombies and weird bosses and creatures...",
"3.",
"the game gives you enough credits to actually make it a bit easier to play so that if you die, you can easily come back...",
"4.",
"Storyline is pretty good, not the best though...",
"5.",
"Cool cutscenes\n\n6.",
"you can unlock HOTD 2 and play that on the game, pretty cool feature...",
"Cons: 1.",
"aiming the gun can be quite difficult especially when you have a million zombies on your a$$\n\n2.",
"you only have one weapon the whole game which is the shotgun.",
"3.",
"The guy that follows you doesnt even help you or anything yet he is in every cutscene and seems like he is not even with you.",
"you have to help him from getting killed yet he doesnt do nothing for you..",
"i mean what the ****???",
"4.",
"The game is very short, you can beat it in one night if you are quite good at those type games.",
"5.",
"The last boss of the game is impossible to beat and it took me over (literally) 20 tries to beat it.",
"It is hard, i repeat it is HARD!!!!",
"Basically, it is a diffcult game, a short one, but the difficultness makes up for it...",
"Even though it has some flaws and cons, i still recommend it.",
"it is quite cheap now anyway, so if you like these shoot em up games, i recommend you get house of the dead III..."
]
|
I would call these a real mixed bag. These chews are HUGE! I like to give my dog one rawhide chew a night, but these are slabs of rawhide, not a chip or normal chew by any stretch. On the flip side, the taste must be OK, as my dog at it. She actually stopped and left it after devouring about half of it, which is unheard of. Not sure if it was just too thick and she was tired, or what. But picked it up and she ate the rest the next night. Not optimum for me, but not horrible. If you have a big rugged dog, these might be great. If you've got a little dog - don't even think about them. | 1 | neutral | [
"I would call these a real mixed bag.",
"These chews are HUGE!",
"I like to give my dog one rawhide chew a night, but these are slabs of rawhide, not a chip or normal chew by any stretch.",
"On the flip side, the taste must be OK, as my dog at it.",
"She actually stopped and left it after devouring about half of it, which is unheard of.",
"Not sure if it was just too thick and she was tired, or what.",
"But picked it up and she ate the rest the next night.",
"Not optimum for me, but not horrible.",
"If you have a big rugged dog, these might be great.",
"If you've got a little dog - don't even think about them."
]
|
The game is pretty, and it's fun to play with friends, although some of the added gameplay dynamics are frustrating: namely that once you're on the ground, you can expect to get hit 6-7 more times before you can so much as regain your footing, and even then, you're on the defensive for the rest of the match.
The biggest problem with this game is that the single player, which you're practically forced to play if you ever want to unlock weapons/characters/armor, etc is awful.
The main reason is the computer AI. Enemies vary between being 100% flawless (all of your moves are blocked, if not guard impacted, all of your throws negated, even though there should only be a 50% chance of that if someone's even fast enough to attempt negating it), and being 100% worthless. It punishes you for even trying to fight, because immediately after the enemy blocks your attack, he immediately counters with a lightning fast move before you can block it (even moves that knock an enemy off balance don't protect you from this counter attack).
The enemy alternates between sitting completely still and not trying to block anything, to becoming completely impossible to harm at all; there is no in between. Skill is irrelevant, as I can beat computer opponents just as well with the character i've used since soul caliber 1 (which i consider myself quite skilled with) as with a new character who's moves I have no idea to enact (which I admit I am god awful with). This is because any hit you get off the computer is because it allowed you hit it. Tactics, switch moves, throwing off balance, fakeouts, etc do absolutely nothing against the computer. You're as likely to strike the computer with the most comnplicated and flawlessly executed maneuver in the history of fighting games as you are by closing your eyes and mashing the triangle button (try it, it works).
Second reason is massive load times. Trying to play through story mode makes you wait 15 seconds to load out of a battle into the map screen, 15 seconds to wait for the next text box, 15 seconds again to load into battle mode, and then it makes you watch every damn cinematic on the way though.
Chronicles of the sword seemed like an intersting new game, but once again suffers the same problems as the other single player modes, some of which are even worse here. Frequent loading saps any amount of inensity the game might hold, and the rediculous difficulty of the computer AI is magnified here. Everyone in this mode gets "levels" 1-60. You start at level 1ish, and fight opponents usually ranging from lv 7-60. Higher the levels, the more health/damage they have/do. Also, just to spice things up, battles frequently have an effect like "all the attacks the enemy makes are unblockable", or "any hits you make against the enemy don't slow him down". These benefits only occur for whoever controls the tower, and since 95% of it is you attacking towers, not defending, these benefits rarely if ever get applied to you.
With all of this complaining, you might wonder why I gave the game 3 stars. Remember, this is only the single player mode. Multiplayer is still relatively fun. It also suffers from load times (especially when picking characters and trying to see what they look like), and the problem with once you're on the floor you're pretty much a goner, but is otherwise loads of fun. Once you go through the root canal of single player to unlock the characters that is. | 1 | neutral | [
"The game is pretty, and it's fun to play with friends, although some of the added gameplay dynamics are frustrating: namely that once you're on the ground, you can expect to get hit 6-7 more times before you can so much as regain your footing, and even then, you're on the defensive for the rest of the match.",
"The biggest problem with this game is that the single player, which you're practically forced to play if you ever want to unlock weapons/characters/armor, etc is awful.",
"The main reason is the computer AI.",
"Enemies vary between being 100% flawless (all of your moves are blocked, if not guard impacted, all of your throws negated, even though there should only be a 50% chance of that if someone's even fast enough to attempt negating it), and being 100% worthless.",
"It punishes you for even trying to fight, because immediately after the enemy blocks your attack, he immediately counters with a lightning fast move before you can block it (even moves that knock an enemy off balance don't protect you from this counter attack).",
"The enemy alternates between sitting completely still and not trying to block anything, to becoming completely impossible to harm at all; there is no in between.",
"Skill is irrelevant, as I can beat computer opponents just as well with the character i've used since soul caliber 1 (which i consider myself quite skilled with) as with a new character who's moves I have no idea to enact (which I admit I am god awful with).",
"This is because any hit you get off the computer is because it allowed you hit it.",
"Tactics, switch moves, throwing off balance, fakeouts, etc do absolutely nothing against the computer.",
"You're as likely to strike the computer with the most comnplicated and flawlessly executed maneuver in the history of fighting games as you are by closing your eyes and mashing the triangle button (try it, it works).",
"Second reason is massive load times.",
"Trying to play through story mode makes you wait 15 seconds to load out of a battle into the map screen, 15 seconds to wait for the next text box, 15 seconds again to load into battle mode, and then it makes you watch every damn cinematic on the way though.",
"Chronicles of the sword seemed like an intersting new game, but once again suffers the same problems as the other single player modes, some of which are even worse here.",
"Frequent loading saps any amount of inensity the game might hold, and the rediculous difficulty of the computer AI is magnified here.",
"Everyone in this mode gets \"levels\" 1-60.",
"You start at level 1ish, and fight opponents usually ranging from lv 7-60.",
"Higher the levels, the more health/damage they have/do.",
"Also, just to spice things up, battles frequently have an effect like \"all the attacks the enemy makes are unblockable\", or \"any hits you make against the enemy don't slow him down\".",
"These benefits only occur for whoever controls the tower, and since 95% of it is you attacking towers, not defending, these benefits rarely if ever get applied to you.",
"With all of this complaining, you might wonder why I gave the game 3 stars.",
"Remember, this is only the single player mode.",
"Multiplayer is still relatively fun.",
"It also suffers from load times (especially when picking characters and trying to see what they look like), and the problem with once you're on the floor you're pretty much a goner, but is otherwise loads of fun.",
"Once you go through the root canal of single player to unlock the characters that is."
]
|
Sounds EXCELLENT! For those who crave that deep "club" or "concert" like bass, this is for you. These speakers are so loud, you can probably use it as a PA system. The highs and mids are good, but nothing amazing. The only flaw was that there was NO power button which is idiotic. I had to unplug it everyday to turn it off to conserve electricity. Overtime, about 3 years later the speakers went out, probably due to a short circuit from unplugging the speakers. What a waste. Paid $150 for it. Probably would buy again ONLY IF they improved the design. | 1 | neutral | [
"Sounds EXCELLENT!",
"For those who crave that deep \"club\" or \"concert\" like bass, this is for you.",
"These speakers are so loud, you can probably use it as a PA system.",
"The highs and mids are good, but nothing amazing.",
"The only flaw was that there was NO power button which is idiotic.",
"I had to unplug it everyday to turn it off to conserve electricity.",
"Overtime, about 3 years later the speakers went out, probably due to a short circuit from unplugging the speakers.",
"What a waste.",
"Paid $150 for it.",
"Probably would buy again ONLY IF they improved the design."
]
|
I finally sat down and watched Burton's "Planet of the Apes" for a second time to see if there any details I missed. I happen to like most sci-fi films, even if there are minor errors in logic. As long as the movie is entertaining and the characters are believable. When I saw this movie the first time it fit all this criteria and it was definitely worth watching.
First of all, the central story line, despite what the critics claim, makes sense for the most part. The planet itself is inhabited by the survivors of the large spaceship that crashed. The humans came from the crew, the apes from the animals that were on board. The apes are more powerful because they had hidden their powers and intellect from the humans. Given that it was a desolate planet the humans adapted poorly while the apes flourished. The only possible gap here is that in the beginning we only see chimps. But it's never made clear that only chimps are on board the spacecraft.
That this story line diverts from the original shouldn't mean Burton's vision is wrong. It's his movie and he can recreate the story. However, there are two major gaps in his story.
First of all, Charlton Heston's cameo as an ape who has an ancient gun made by humans doesn't make sense. That specific planet and all its inhabitants derive from the spaceship which had 21st century technology. The gun is from the 20th century. So how did he get it?
The second major flaw, as noted by countless others, is the ending. I listened to Burton's comments in this section of the DVD and he was like a stammering teenager on dope trying to explain why he went with that specific ending. He kept saying over and over that this is where the story was supposed to end. That might be the case, but he didn't leave anything in his story to bring the audience to that result. How did Gen. Thade get to earth and go back in time? Burton doesn't bother to explain in his commentary. His answer is worthless at best. He failed as the director to tell the story. The only way Thade could have gone back in time on earth was if he had a workable spacecraft. And he didn't.
In both cases, Heston's gun and the ending, Burton was just lazy, pure and simple. He wanted to add these neat little things to his movie and he didn't care how much it detracted from the final product.
I happened to like "Planet" more the first time I saw it. But when I saw it a second time, and then heard Burton's comments, the film lost most of its entertainment value. Burton is good at creating new worlds out of whole cloth. And I'll give him this much for "Planet," the characters were more believable than in his earlier films. (Ahem, which isn't saying much.) After hearing his commentary, however, I believe Burton was just blatantly stubborn, arrogant, and dismissive of his audience. | 1 | neutral | [
"I finally sat down and watched Burton's \"Planet of the Apes\" for a second time to see if there any details I missed.",
"I happen to like most sci-fi films, even if there are minor errors in logic.",
"As long as the movie is entertaining and the characters are believable.",
"When I saw this movie the first time it fit all this criteria and it was definitely worth watching.",
"First of all, the central story line, despite what the critics claim, makes sense for the most part.",
"The planet itself is inhabited by the survivors of the large spaceship that crashed.",
"The humans came from the crew, the apes from the animals that were on board.",
"The apes are more powerful because they had hidden their powers and intellect from the humans.",
"Given that it was a desolate planet the humans adapted poorly while the apes flourished.",
"The only possible gap here is that in the beginning we only see chimps.",
"But it's never made clear that only chimps are on board the spacecraft.",
"That this story line diverts from the original shouldn't mean Burton's vision is wrong.",
"It's his movie and he can recreate the story.",
"However, there are two major gaps in his story.",
"First of all, Charlton Heston's cameo as an ape who has an ancient gun made by humans doesn't make sense.",
"That specific planet and all its inhabitants derive from the spaceship which had 21st century technology.",
"The gun is from the 20th century.",
"So how did he get it?",
"The second major flaw, as noted by countless others, is the ending.",
"I listened to Burton's comments in this section of the DVD and he was like a stammering teenager on dope trying to explain why he went with that specific ending.",
"He kept saying over and over that this is where the story was supposed to end.",
"That might be the case, but he didn't leave anything in his story to bring the audience to that result.",
"How did Gen.",
"Thade get to earth and go back in time?",
"Burton doesn't bother to explain in his commentary.",
"His answer is worthless at best.",
"He failed as the director to tell the story.",
"The only way Thade could have gone back in time on earth was if he had a workable spacecraft.",
"And he didn't.",
"In both cases, Heston's gun and the ending, Burton was just lazy, pure and simple.",
"He wanted to add these neat little things to his movie and he didn't care how much it detracted from the final product.",
"I happened to like \"Planet\" more the first time I saw it.",
"But when I saw it a second time, and then heard Burton's comments, the film lost most of its entertainment value.",
"Burton is good at creating new worlds out of whole cloth.",
"And I'll give him this much for \"Planet,\" the characters were more believable than in his earlier films.",
"(Ahem, which isn't saying much.",
") After hearing his commentary, however, I believe Burton was just blatantly stubborn, arrogant, and dismissive of his audience."
]
|
*** Amazon has posted this review under the wrong product somehow --- I will delete this review shortly as I have copied it over to the correct product now. ***
I won't repeat what has already been covered well by others here. I'll just add my own comments on the pros and cons and value offered. First, I think this is a great value and a good deal for all that is offered. The product performs reasonably well, and works as described here. Overall, I am satisfied and think these are good, but see the pros and cons below. The biggest problem is the cheaply made remote which does not work well at all and has terrible ergonomics. After using this for awhile, I am tempted to remove another star, but if you are careful, it gets the job done.
Pros:
-- Good value
-- Wall units work well
-- Have on/off buttons on outlet component, has lights indicating power being received from outlet, and power on/off to device.
-- Remotes have a good range
-- Solid construction, look durable and well made (Wall units, remote is cheap)
Cons:
-- These things are BIG! This will be a problem in many cases, depending on your outlet location and use.
-- Remote buttons are just toggles and you have to look at the outlet component indicator to know if it is off or on. (Might not be a problem for some uses, turning a light on/off, for example.)
-- Remote buttons are easily "toggled" - so you can accidentally turn things on/off just by picking it up if not careful.
-- Remote uses an unusual battery size (i.e. not an AAA, AA, or similar) [might also be a plus in that it may well last longer and it is small]
-- Remote buttons can "stick" sometimes and could run down the remote's battery (cheaply made)
-- Remote is a bit flaky and sometimes registers two presses when you think you've just made one, so, in effect, no effect. | 1 | neutral | [
"*** Amazon has posted this review under the wrong product somehow --- I will delete this review shortly as I have copied it over to the correct product now.",
"***\n\nI won't repeat what has already been covered well by others here.",
"I'll just add my own comments on the pros and cons and value offered.",
"First, I think this is a great value and a good deal for all that is offered.",
"The product performs reasonably well, and works as described here.",
"Overall, I am satisfied and think these are good, but see the pros and cons below.",
"The biggest problem is the cheaply made remote which does not work well at all and has terrible ergonomics.",
"After using this for awhile, I am tempted to remove another star, but if you are careful, it gets the job done.",
"Pros:\n-- Good value\n-- Wall units work well\n-- Have on/off buttons on outlet component, has lights indicating power being received from outlet, and power on/off to device.",
"-- Remotes have a good range\n-- Solid construction, look durable and well made (Wall units, remote is cheap)\n\nCons:\n-- These things are BIG!",
"This will be a problem in many cases, depending on your outlet location and use.",
"-- Remote buttons are just toggles and you have to look at the outlet component indicator to know if it is off or on.",
"(Might not be a problem for some uses, turning a light on/off, for example.",
")\n-- Remote buttons are easily \"toggled\" - so you can accidentally turn things on/off just by picking it up if not careful.",
"-- Remote uses an unusual battery size (i.",
"e. not an AAA, AA, or similar) [might also be a plus in that it may well last longer and it is small]\n-- Remote buttons can \"stick\" sometimes and could run down the remote's battery (cheaply made)\n-- Remote is a bit flaky and sometimes registers two presses when you think you've just made one, so, in effect, no effect."
]
|
The thing with Tabasco sauces is that they are actually remarkably low-quality despite their widespread recognition. Particularly their classic sauce, which just doesn't hold up flavor-wise once you start to branch out and try other types of hot-sauces.
But I will contend that this variation, the Chipotle flavor, is fairly decent. As with regular Tabasco, the flavor is problematic due to the overwhelming taste of vinegar. But I do find myself enjoying the smokey, tangy notes of this sauce once you get past that initial "Blech!" of the overbearing vinegar flavor. I don't think it works necessarily as a topping, but those notes of smoke and tang do make it a good addition in recipes. I find myself using a few spoon-fulls, along with straight cayenne sauce and Ghost Pepper sauce in chili and other similar dishes to give some good flavor.
I'm not too familiar with Chipotle products/sauces/foods, but I definitely am interested after trying this.
This is one of the few Tabasco products I would definitely recommend people give a shot. It's not amazing, but it's decent. | 1 | neutral | [
"The thing with Tabasco sauces is that they are actually remarkably low-quality despite their widespread recognition.",
"Particularly their classic sauce, which just doesn't hold up flavor-wise once you start to branch out and try other types of hot-sauces.",
"But I will contend that this variation, the Chipotle flavor, is fairly decent.",
"As with regular Tabasco, the flavor is problematic due to the overwhelming taste of vinegar.",
"But I do find myself enjoying the smokey, tangy notes of this sauce once you get past that initial \"Blech!",
"\" of the overbearing vinegar flavor.",
"I don't think it works necessarily as a topping, but those notes of smoke and tang do make it a good addition in recipes.",
"I find myself using a few spoon-fulls, along with straight cayenne sauce and Ghost Pepper sauce in chili and other similar dishes to give some good flavor.",
"I'm not too familiar with Chipotle products/sauces/foods, but I definitely am interested after trying this.",
"This is one of the few Tabasco products I would definitely recommend people give a shot.",
"It's not amazing, but it's decent."
]
|
I found it impossible to capture video with any software except the feature poor software that came with the device. Adobe Premiere? Can't capture. Adobe After Effects? Can't capture. Windows Video? Can't capture. NOTHING can capture from the device but that freebie software. I left tech support a question about this. It took FIVE WEEKS (yes - 5) to get an answer!
If you are happy with the included software, you're all set. If you want the "professional" results Dazzle brags about, forget it. | 1 | neutral | [
"I found it impossible to capture video with any software except the feature poor software that came with the device.",
"Adobe Premiere?",
"Can't capture.",
"Adobe After Effects?",
"Can't capture.",
"Windows Video?",
"Can't capture.",
"NOTHING can capture from the device but that freebie software.",
"I left tech support a question about this.",
"It took FIVE WEEKS (yes - 5) to get an answer!",
"If you are happy with the included software, you're all set.",
"If you want the \"professional\" results Dazzle brags about, forget it."
]
|
I would have given it a 3.5 if I could....It is above average. I downloaded this for free on the recommendation of J. R. Rain. According to the books page it would be about 150 pages long which feels about right as I was able to finish it in less than a couple of hours. With the style and length of the book I feel this is almost an opening act for the series. I may have wished for more story, but then there are several more books at a reasonable price after this. So I bought the "Vampire Love Story Boxed set of 4", for $3.99.
After I read "Vampire Love Story" I wanted to see what the other reviews said about it. Especially the 1s. I was surprised at the number of 1s and the vehemence of dislike in which they wrote. So I thought I would give some counter arguments.
1. Little Romance - I have to agree with that, but for 150 pages there is the beginning of a love story, after all it is a series and doesn't have to get to the nitty gritty on page three. I personally like it when the romance is stretched out a bit.
2. Short sentences - Granted it doesn't have the smoothness of some great novels, however, I feel that the sentence structure fits the hero and helps set the pace of the novella.
3. Unlikeable characters - I kind of liked them in a I hope I never meet them way. Too often lately the vampires are too controlled and perfect, except for the hero and his/her friends. Nope not here they like to drink blood. Go figure.
4. Didn't like the name Josiah - Personally I liked the name. I get tired of Dereks and Erics, and just plain Bills. Not to mention too many Vlads.
5. Recommended Black Dagger Brotherhood and Sookie Stackhouse.....I've already read them which is why I'm looking for a new series (and the past couple of Sookies' haven't even been that good)
6. Bad editing - maybe the editing was fixed or my English needs to be updated. I didn't have that many issues. The only one I noticed was where a he should have been a she.
7. 50 reviewers must be all family and friends - Granted I may not be giving it a five but having 50 people review it as a five means at least 30 people he didn't know did.
8. Didn't like male point of view - not an issue with me I loved "Lestat" and "The Wolf Gift". And even the series where they switch male/female points of view are fine with me.
9. Boring - personally I feel you should read at least 100 pages of a book before you give up on it. The first time I read "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" I gave up. Boring. Then I tried again six months later. I still didn't like the beginning but as soon as they got to Hogwart's wow. Then all of the "boring" beginning made more sense. So maybe the lack of explanations in the beginning might be "slow" but why should all of the cards be laid on the table at the get go? Have we become so impatient we can't wait for things to develop?
10. Predictable - Maybe in some ways but hey, whenever I read a romance I know boy meets girl, they fall in love, trouble happens, doubt of the other's love, big event, love and kisses. It doesn't keep me from buying them. | 1 | neutral | [
"I would have given it a 3.",
"5 if I could....",
"It is above average.",
"I downloaded this for free on the recommendation of J.",
"R.",
"Rain.",
"According to the books page it would be about 150 pages long which feels about right as I was able to finish it in less than a couple of hours.",
"With the style and length of the book I feel this is almost an opening act for the series.",
"I may have wished for more story, but then there are several more books at a reasonable price after this.",
"So I bought the \"Vampire Love Story Boxed set of 4\", for $3.",
"99.",
"After I read \"Vampire Love Story\" I wanted to see what the other reviews said about it.",
"Especially the 1s.",
"I was surprised at the number of 1s and the vehemence of dislike in which they wrote.",
"So I thought I would give some counter arguments.",
"1.",
"Little Romance - I have to agree with that, but for 150 pages there is the beginning of a love story, after all it is a series and doesn't have to get to the nitty gritty on page three.",
"I personally like it when the romance is stretched out a bit.",
"2.",
"Short sentences - Granted it doesn't have the smoothness of some great novels, however, I feel that the sentence structure fits the hero and helps set the pace of the novella.",
"3.",
"Unlikeable characters - I kind of liked them in a I hope I never meet them way.",
"Too often lately the vampires are too controlled and perfect, except for the hero and his/her friends.",
"Nope not here they like to drink blood.",
"Go figure.",
"4.",
"Didn't like the name Josiah - Personally I liked the name.",
"I get tired of Dereks and Erics, and just plain Bills.",
"Not to mention too many Vlads.",
"5.",
"Recommended Black Dagger Brotherhood and Sookie Stackhouse....",
".",
"I've already read them which is why I'm looking for a new series (and the past couple of Sookies' haven't even been that good)\n\n6.",
"Bad editing - maybe the editing was fixed or my English needs to be updated.",
"I didn't have that many issues.",
"The only one I noticed was where a he should have been a she.",
"7.",
"50 reviewers must be all family and friends - Granted I may not be giving it a five but having 50 people review it as a five means at least 30 people he didn't know did.",
"8.",
"Didn't like male point of view - not an issue with me I loved \"Lestat\" and \"The Wolf Gift\".",
"And even the series where they switch male/female points of view are fine with me.",
"9.",
"Boring - personally I feel you should read at least 100 pages of a book before you give up on it.",
"The first time I read \"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone\" I gave up.",
"Boring.",
"Then I tried again six months later.",
"I still didn't like the beginning but as soon as they got to Hogwart's wow.",
"Then all of the \"boring\" beginning made more sense.",
"So maybe the lack of explanations in the beginning might be \"slow\" but why should all of the cards be laid on the table at the get go?",
"Have we become so impatient we can't wait for things to develop?",
"10.",
"Predictable - Maybe in some ways but hey, whenever I read a romance I know boy meets girl, they fall in love, trouble happens, doubt of the other's love, big event, love and kisses.",
"It doesn't keep me from buying them."
]
|
I bought this when I received my DS Lite for Christmas of 2007 and there were a few accessories I knew I would want.
First of all - a small carrying case. This one does well.
I wanted a car charger, holder for some games and ear buds. An extra stylus would be handy, too.
This package had all the accessories that I wanted at the time, plus a few extra items...some of which I doubted that I'd ever use. But, the price was right and all there in one fell swoop.
So far, everything has held up and works okay. Some of the items I haven't messed with, but for what I wanted, it worked out fine.
It just depends on what you want in accessories. | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought this when I received my DS Lite for Christmas of 2007 and there were a few accessories I knew I would want.",
"First of all - a small carrying case.",
"This one does well.",
"I wanted a car charger, holder for some games and ear buds.",
"An extra stylus would be handy, too.",
"This package had all the accessories that I wanted at the time, plus a few extra items...",
"some of which I doubted that I'd ever use.",
"But, the price was right and all there in one fell swoop.",
"So far, everything has held up and works okay.",
"Some of the items I haven't messed with, but for what I wanted, it worked out fine.",
"It just depends on what you want in accessories."
]
|
Controversial? Why?
Mayall comes across here as being one very earnest cat, even if he sings like a goose about to be turned into Christmas dinner: "Little Girl" shows him to be a caring, anti-sexist bluesman, but his "sensitivity" gets him in trouble when he totally guts "Parchman Farm" of Mose Allison's rancid humor and tries to make it a "statement" about racism instead.
Clapton's delicious, creamy foghorn tone is given its public debut, but unfortunately so is his near-priestly, rather self-serving reverence for the legend of Robert Johnson, which later got HIM in trouble when he tried slow suicide with H and booze. "Rambling on My Mind" sounds more like "Prufrock's Blues" -- "Do I dare disturb the universe?" Dave Ray's jackhammer version of this on the lttle-known gem "Snaker's Here" (see my review thereof) makes Clapton sound lost in about half the recording time. We had to wait for Cream to hear what Clapton was really capable of. Here he's just a very good studio guitarist.
And the drum solo in "What'd I Say" is STILL one of the dullest ever recorded.
Paul Butterfield, John Hammond, Dave Ray, the Blues Project, and Bonnie Raitt all recorded punchier stuff than this, because they didn't sound so bloody academic. They were American, after all.
What this album really proves is that Rory Gallagher's "Live in Europe" (q.v.) really WAS the finest blues-rock album ever recorded by anyone British. This one's a must-have for Claptonologists and enjoyable for nostalgia buffs, but not much more. | 1 | neutral | [
"Controversial?",
"Why?",
"Mayall comes across here as being one very earnest cat, even if he sings like a goose about to be turned into Christmas dinner: \"Little Girl\" shows him to be a caring, anti-sexist bluesman, but his \"sensitivity\" gets him in trouble when he totally guts \"Parchman Farm\" of Mose Allison's rancid humor and tries to make it a \"statement\" about racism instead.",
"Clapton's delicious, creamy foghorn tone is given its public debut, but unfortunately so is his near-priestly, rather self-serving reverence for the legend of Robert Johnson, which later got HIM in trouble when he tried slow suicide with H and booze.",
"\"Rambling on My Mind\" sounds more like \"Prufrock's Blues\" -- \"Do I dare disturb the universe?",
"\" Dave Ray's jackhammer version of this on the lttle-known gem \"Snaker's Here\" (see my review thereof) makes Clapton sound lost in about half the recording time.",
"We had to wait for Cream to hear what Clapton was really capable of.",
"Here he's just a very good studio guitarist.",
"And the drum solo in \"What'd I Say\" is STILL one of the dullest ever recorded.",
"Paul Butterfield, John Hammond, Dave Ray, the Blues Project, and Bonnie Raitt all recorded punchier stuff than this, because they didn't sound so bloody academic.",
"They were American, after all.",
"What this album really proves is that Rory Gallagher's \"Live in Europe\" (q.",
"v.) really WAS the finest blues-rock album ever recorded by anyone British.",
"This one's a must-have for Claptonologists and enjoyable for nostalgia buffs, but not much more."
]
|
I have had this wagon for about 4 years now and it has gotten minimal use. I bought it for the seat belts and the cup holder was a nice bonus. I hate how huge it is. It is a real pain to navigate with a child in it and my daughter has always been tiny. She's 6 now and weighs only 39 lbs. It has been in our garage forever. It still works and looks great but I always hated taking it out. I would only use it when my husband came along to pull or push it. We used it no more than 10 times and I wish I would've gotten something smaller. If you don't have 2 kids, stick with a smaller wagon. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have had this wagon for about 4 years now and it has gotten minimal use.",
"I bought it for the seat belts and the cup holder was a nice bonus.",
"I hate how huge it is.",
"It is a real pain to navigate with a child in it and my daughter has always been tiny.",
"She's 6 now and weighs only 39 lbs.",
"It has been in our garage forever.",
"It still works and looks great but I always hated taking it out.",
"I would only use it when my husband came along to pull or push it.",
"We used it no more than 10 times and I wish I would've gotten something smaller.",
"If you don't have 2 kids, stick with a smaller wagon."
]
|
I had high hopes for this one. I love wooden toys for kids. The quality of the wood and the toy itself seems fine. The colors are pretty. The kids love the rainbow colors.
When I purchased it, I didn't really see an age limit in the description online or the toy itself. I figured I would use it when the time was right. When my son started crawling, I brought it out for him to start trying. That was a mistake. He took all the pieces off and shoved the wooden stick into his throat. The stick part is pretty small. I was scared that would happen again or that someone was going to get poked in the eye with it. I picked this toy up until further notice. With that being said, I always love the melissa and doug toys, but this might be one of the first misses that I have come across. | 1 | neutral | [
"I had high hopes for this one.",
"I love wooden toys for kids.",
"The quality of the wood and the toy itself seems fine.",
"The colors are pretty.",
"The kids love the rainbow colors.",
"When I purchased it, I didn't really see an age limit in the description online or the toy itself.",
"I figured I would use it when the time was right.",
"When my son started crawling, I brought it out for him to start trying.",
"That was a mistake.",
"He took all the pieces off and shoved the wooden stick into his throat.",
"The stick part is pretty small.",
"I was scared that would happen again or that someone was going to get poked in the eye with it.",
"I picked this toy up until further notice.",
"With that being said, I always love the melissa and doug toys, but this might be one of the first misses that I have come across."
]
|
The graphics and surroundings of "The Mark Of Kri" are exceptional. Its more of a cartoon feel rather than that of a real gory game. Besides the graphics, the controls are unsteardy and somewhat irritating. It takes you ages to move the charachter providing your enimies ample time to harm you as much as possible. The player gets a really weird feeling after the charachter whom you play, penetrates his sword into the enemies body, gives it a 90 Degree rotation and then pulls it out. Eeire! I mean you may not feel it at the time, however you do later on. Trust me on that one!
On the other hand, the sound is really good. If you love gore, a lot and a lot of gore, this game is for you. If your'e squeamish you might end up in a pretty bad situation!
Overall, a good, worth for the money game. And yeah, the extra gore is included!! | 1 | neutral | [
"The graphics and surroundings of \"The Mark Of Kri\" are exceptional.",
"Its more of a cartoon feel rather than that of a real gory game.",
"Besides the graphics, the controls are unsteardy and somewhat irritating.",
"It takes you ages to move the charachter providing your enimies ample time to harm you as much as possible.",
"The player gets a really weird feeling after the charachter whom you play, penetrates his sword into the enemies body, gives it a 90 Degree rotation and then pulls it out.",
"Eeire!",
"I mean you may not feel it at the time, however you do later on.",
"Trust me on that one!",
"On the other hand, the sound is really good.",
"If you love gore, a lot and a lot of gore, this game is for you.",
"If your'e squeamish you might end up in a pretty bad situation!",
"Overall, a good, worth for the money game.",
"And yeah, the extra gore is included!!"
]
|
Sometimes being girly is a lovely thing. Sometimes it is just plain difficult - like when you are camping in a national forest without warning! Being girly is what keeps Allie interesting. Her desire to shower (or bathe) and her desire to wear nice clothes keep her character interesting during her sparring with Clint.
Oh yeah, her cursing and general "potty mouth" keep her character from being boring, too.
The concept is familiar: the hero "kidnaps" the heroine, she attempts to escape, contacts someone, and before being rescued, starts to enjoy the time with her captor. Thus when she is "rescued", confusion ensues and drives the hero and heroine apart, only to be reunited by a secondary character for a happy ending. Both Allie and Clint have multiple layers to their personalities, and this is what keeps the "kidnapping" portion of the book interesting. Enjoying Allie's reaction to camping, and the lack of "real food" as well as her enjoyment of the outdoors keeps the plot from getting stale.
One can not help but enjoy Allie's foibles: posing as a stripper, breaking a heel while trying to escape, running into Clint's mother while grocery shopping . . . it makes up for her whining episodes when she isn't getting her way.
This is a nice, easy read. It is just the thing to bring to the beach (or camping!) and while away an hour or two. Enjoy it this summer!
Originally posted at the Long and Short of It Romance Reviews | 1 | neutral | [
"Sometimes being girly is a lovely thing.",
"Sometimes it is just plain difficult - like when you are camping in a national forest without warning!",
"Being girly is what keeps Allie interesting.",
"Her desire to shower (or bathe) and her desire to wear nice clothes keep her character interesting during her sparring with Clint.",
"Oh yeah, her cursing and general \"potty mouth\" keep her character from being boring, too.",
"The concept is familiar: the hero \"kidnaps\" the heroine, she attempts to escape, contacts someone, and before being rescued, starts to enjoy the time with her captor.",
"Thus when she is \"rescued\", confusion ensues and drives the hero and heroine apart, only to be reunited by a secondary character for a happy ending.",
"Both Allie and Clint have multiple layers to their personalities, and this is what keeps the \"kidnapping\" portion of the book interesting.",
"Enjoying Allie's reaction to camping, and the lack of \"real food\" as well as her enjoyment of the outdoors keeps the plot from getting stale.",
"One can not help but enjoy Allie's foibles: posing as a stripper, breaking a heel while trying to escape, running into Clint's mother while grocery shopping.",
".",
".",
"it makes up for her whining episodes when she isn't getting her way.",
"This is a nice, easy read.",
"It is just the thing to bring to the beach (or camping!",
") and while away an hour or two.",
"Enjoy it this summer!",
"Originally posted at the Long and Short of It Romance Reviews"
]
|
I was excited to use this due to seeing how the fraction display worked on it. I was upset to find out that the device often times will register random values on the display when sitting still on a level work bench. It will also randomly begin to increment at values ~5mm, sometimes this occurs during the opening the jaws of the caliper. It also will increment at times just sitting on a bench, I thought it could be the battery but I have replaced it and this still occurs.
I already have a digital caliper from harbor freight I purchased many years ago and it still runs strong on the original battery. I should have just taken the hour trip to harbor freight now that I see they have calipers that display fractions.
Update 4/11/2017: After tearing this caliper apart multiple times and a few battery change outs, the issues I had earlier have gone away. My advice to anyone purchasing this unit is to discard the batteries that came with it, I am thinking that this was my problem all along. Either the batteries were very low quality or were low from the get go. I don't have the two originals I had, but the new battery fits in the holder much better, so I suspect cheap batteries. I doubt my tear-down and rebuild had any impact on the unit but it could have. | 1 | neutral | [
"I was excited to use this due to seeing how the fraction display worked on it.",
"I was upset to find out that the device often times will register random values on the display when sitting still on a level work bench.",
"It will also randomly begin to increment at values ~5mm, sometimes this occurs during the opening the jaws of the caliper.",
"It also will increment at times just sitting on a bench, I thought it could be the battery but I have replaced it and this still occurs.",
"I already have a digital caliper from harbor freight I purchased many years ago and it still runs strong on the original battery.",
"I should have just taken the hour trip to harbor freight now that I see they have calipers that display fractions.",
"Update 4/11/2017: After tearing this caliper apart multiple times and a few battery change outs, the issues I had earlier have gone away.",
"My advice to anyone purchasing this unit is to discard the batteries that came with it, I am thinking that this was my problem all along.",
"Either the batteries were very low quality or were low from the get go.",
"I don't have the two originals I had, but the new battery fits in the holder much better, so I suspect cheap batteries.",
"I doubt my tear-down and rebuild had any impact on the unit but it could have."
]
|
I've read over a dozen "what if" books from Pride and Prejudice, and 2 of my favorite are Darcy's Voyage and Only Mr. Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise.
I bought Assumed Engagement with great expectation, and it really disappointed me. I wouldn't say this was written by the same author.
Assumed Engagement is a good idea for a "what if" book, but it becomes a bit boring and the characters are as developed as they could have been.
Mr. Darcy is too proud to the point of not standing to be in the house of his servants, Georgiana is definitely not herself! She is a confidant young girl who decides to change her brother by forcing him to stand in the presence of others, to be humble, to know how to talk to people, even how to be generous! And she is the one responsible for Darcy and Elizabeth to be together with all her scheemes of matchmaking .
In this book Darcy really, really changes, because he is portrait as a "bad" person. Even Elizabeth is a bit childish and confused.
Apart from the characters, the love story is also not that good. Darcy and Elizabeth are only together for like 6 days after she refuses him. And they are with eachother only 10% of the book.
She refuses him in Rosings, he has an accident and enters a coma status, Lizzy goes to Pemberley at Georgianas request and speaks with him only for 2 minutes once he regained his conscience. They meet again one day before Jane's wedding, and by then she is already in love with him. After the wedding they become engaged. I mean, there is really no depth in the felling Lizzy has. We cannot see her fall in love with him, as there is no real opportunity for her to get to know him.
There is no intensity or passion in their relationship and even when he asks her to marry him, we cannot feel the overwhelming feeling we usually do in these books.
There is no sex scene, which is a good thing in my point of view, even though propriety is not always present.
The best thing in the book was the handkershief idea (Darcy finds it and holds on to it as a reminder of Lizzy. It calms him down whenever he needs).
Overall, it disappointed me as I do love all other books this author has writen. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've read over a dozen \"what if\" books from Pride and Prejudice, and 2 of my favorite are Darcy's Voyage and Only Mr.",
"Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise.",
"I bought Assumed Engagement with great expectation, and it really disappointed me.",
"I wouldn't say this was written by the same author.",
"Assumed Engagement is a good idea for a \"what if\" book, but it becomes a bit boring and the characters are as developed as they could have been.",
"Mr.",
"Darcy is too proud to the point of not standing to be in the house of his servants, Georgiana is definitely not herself!",
"She is a confidant young girl who decides to change her brother by forcing him to stand in the presence of others, to be humble, to know how to talk to people, even how to be generous!",
"And she is the one responsible for Darcy and Elizabeth to be together with all her scheemes of matchmaking.",
"In this book Darcy really, really changes, because he is portrait as a \"bad\" person.",
"Even Elizabeth is a bit childish and confused.",
"Apart from the characters, the love story is also not that good.",
"Darcy and Elizabeth are only together for like 6 days after she refuses him.",
"And they are with eachother only 10% of the book.",
"She refuses him in Rosings, he has an accident and enters a coma status, Lizzy goes to Pemberley at Georgianas request and speaks with him only for 2 minutes once he regained his conscience.",
"They meet again one day before Jane's wedding, and by then she is already in love with him.",
"After the wedding they become engaged.",
"I mean, there is really no depth in the felling Lizzy has.",
"We cannot see her fall in love with him, as there is no real opportunity for her to get to know him.",
"There is no intensity or passion in their relationship and even when he asks her to marry him, we cannot feel the overwhelming feeling we usually do in these books.",
"There is no sex scene, which is a good thing in my point of view, even though propriety is not always present.",
"The best thing in the book was the handkershief idea (Darcy finds it and holds on to it as a reminder of Lizzy.",
"It calms him down whenever he needs).",
"Overall, it disappointed me as I do love all other books this author has writen."
]
|
I viewed the product video before I bought this. It is very misleading. You can clearly see in the video at the 0:29 second mark that there is metal shown between the lid and the spout (look in the spout hole for a reflection). However, on the actual product the inside of the lid is PLASTIC.
Also, at the bottom of the plunger the circular part that holds the screen is PLASTIC too (note I'm not talking about the silicon ring around the edge, which is not really a problem).
Considering that this product is advertised as being stainless steel, and nowhere does it list that it is also made of plastic I have to give it only 3 stars.
This would be a perfect product if they got rid of the plastic pieces (which will surely BREAK over time). Hot plastic has also been shown to release harmful chemicals into food products.
Too bad, I have been searching for an all-metal french press for some time. I thought this was it, but it isn't.
I'm still happy with it, just disappointed somewhat that they weren't more straightforward about the plastic parts. | 1 | neutral | [
"I viewed the product video before I bought this.",
"It is very misleading.",
"You can clearly see in the video at the 0:29 second mark that there is metal shown between the lid and the spout (look in the spout hole for a reflection).",
"However, on the actual product the inside of the lid is PLASTIC.",
"Also, at the bottom of the plunger the circular part that holds the screen is PLASTIC too (note I'm not talking about the silicon ring around the edge, which is not really a problem).",
"Considering that this product is advertised as being stainless steel, and nowhere does it list that it is also made of plastic I have to give it only 3 stars.",
"This would be a perfect product if they got rid of the plastic pieces (which will surely BREAK over time).",
"Hot plastic has also been shown to release harmful chemicals into food products.",
"Too bad, I have been searching for an all-metal french press for some time.",
"I thought this was it, but it isn't.",
"I'm still happy with it, just disappointed somewhat that they weren't more straightforward about the plastic parts."
]
|
An old-school arcade-type beat-em-up, "Monster Madness" tries to appeal to the same kind of frantic multiplayer action that defined games like the Ninja Turtles games. It's campy as heck, and fun for a little while. It doesn't have much lasting value though.
In "Monster Madness", up to four players take the role of teenagers fighting to defend themselves against hordes of zombies and monsters. There are, accordingly, four characters - the nerd, the goth girl, the stoner, and the blonde. Each has their own special weapon, though the stages are littered with more generic improvised weapons that every player can use - furniture, power tools, guns, etc. Weapons can also be upgraded by finding tools and money in levels.
Gameplay is furious and frantic, as befits the game's style. However, it's largely definable as wading through seas of enemies in one way or another. The game is really chaotic to the point of unrecognizability, which adds to the theme of the game but detracts from actual gameplay quality. There are bright colors to distinguish players and so on, but it still largely ends up as a big muddled mess - for better or for worse. It's clear multiplayer antics are the game's main draw, though. The graphics are okay, and the sound is at least suitable for the game's feel. The quips get old pretty quickly, but if you're the kind of person who finds them funny, it might be worth it anyways.
"Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia" doesn't feel like a full game. It feels like a game that ought to be on the XBOX Live arcade or something. It's not bad, but it's not a full-quality game either. If you see it cheap, it could be worth picking up. As a full-price game, though, it doesn't stack up.
Rating: 5/10
Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia was purchased by us from a gaming store, with our own money. We were not compensated in any way for this review. | 1 | neutral | [
"An old-school arcade-type beat-em-up, \"Monster Madness\" tries to appeal to the same kind of frantic multiplayer action that defined games like the Ninja Turtles games.",
"It's campy as heck, and fun for a little while.",
"It doesn't have much lasting value though.",
"In \"Monster Madness\", up to four players take the role of teenagers fighting to defend themselves against hordes of zombies and monsters.",
"There are, accordingly, four characters - the nerd, the goth girl, the stoner, and the blonde.",
"Each has their own special weapon, though the stages are littered with more generic improvised weapons that every player can use - furniture, power tools, guns, etc.",
"Weapons can also be upgraded by finding tools and money in levels.",
"Gameplay is furious and frantic, as befits the game's style.",
"However, it's largely definable as wading through seas of enemies in one way or another.",
"The game is really chaotic to the point of unrecognizability, which adds to the theme of the game but detracts from actual gameplay quality.",
"There are bright colors to distinguish players and so on, but it still largely ends up as a big muddled mess - for better or for worse.",
"It's clear multiplayer antics are the game's main draw, though.",
"The graphics are okay, and the sound is at least suitable for the game's feel.",
"The quips get old pretty quickly, but if you're the kind of person who finds them funny, it might be worth it anyways.",
"\"Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia\" doesn't feel like a full game.",
"It feels like a game that ought to be on the XBOX Live arcade or something.",
"It's not bad, but it's not a full-quality game either.",
"If you see it cheap, it could be worth picking up.",
"As a full-price game, though, it doesn't stack up.",
"Rating: 5/10\n\nMonster Madness: Battle for Suburbia was purchased by us from a gaming store, with our own money.",
"We were not compensated in any way for this review."
]
|
One of the founders of the country rock revolution, although it appearing in 1969 and that revolution had already been occuring for some time, this album offers several strong compositions while at the same time having so many tracks that are so short it doesn't seem like an album at all, but more of a professionaly done EP (anyone remember what EP stands for, btw?). Some tracks are considered rather uneven, like "Country Pie", "Peggy Day", and "Nashville Skyline Rag". This album also marks the first time the critical establishment was rather wary at supporting their favorite nasal-singing troubador, who just a few years before this was released had been spouting wild lyrics about Siamese cats and everybody must get stoned to this rather lightweight material, and instead is singing country ballads and stuff like "I'd love to spend the night with Peggy Day." Not only that, he's singing in a voice that totally departs from his other work, making this even more of a shock. This would, in a very short time, explode into a full scale assault with the release of Self Portrait, although a few (just a few) could have gotten onto this release and sounded right at home.
The biggest problem with this album is how SHORT it is. One of my biggest pet peeves are short albums, and I think a minimum for an album is 30 minutes. Anything below that is a travesty to the buying public, especially now when records can be so much longer because of CD technology. All of Dylan's LPs that went before this with the exception of his debut and JOHN WESLEY HARDING ranged in the 50 minute range, with BLONDE ON BLONDE being 73 minutes long, the very first double album ever, though not a double album by Dylan standards (it would have had to be 100 minutes long). This album, clocking in at under 27 minutes, does not even constitute only constitues a side of his other releases from the 1960s. And the material that is here, one's an insturmental and the other's a rehash from the 1963 protest release. "Country Pie", a certified country rock, dies at 1:35, Peggy Day is VERY lightweight, and with an album this short anyway it doesn't have the material to lose any. While several people like his duet with the man in Black, I've never been a big Cash fan so it is alright but just not the best. Coming from the man who pioneered longer songs (despite what The Doors say), there's not a song longer than three and a half minutes here.
So what songs does it leave us? "Lay Lady Lay", which, though sexually driven, departs from the Christian morality I embrace of sexual unity in marriage only. "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You", depending on how you interpert it, is like "Lay Lady Lay", which for this listener counts this out too, or perhaps not.
So that leaves us with a few compositions, but hardly enough to make an album. From a personal perspective, this album is hardly an album at all, but I can see why it is as acclaimed as it is. "I Threw It All Away" stands as one of my all-time favorite Dylan tunes, and "Tell Me It Isn't True" stands head and shoulders above a lot of other songs. Had "Lay Lady Lay" been more marriage oriented I would really like it, because I really dig the sound. Ah, such is life. As it stands, this album makes an interesting listen, despite the fact that it seems to be hardly an album at all. This is the only bonified country album I do listen too, and this release does constitue a 5 star rating from AllMusic Guide. It is an interesting direction that Dylan took though. | 1 | neutral | [
"One of the founders of the country rock revolution, although it appearing in 1969 and that revolution had already been occuring for some time, this album offers several strong compositions while at the same time having so many tracks that are so short it doesn't seem like an album at all, but more of a professionaly done EP (anyone remember what EP stands for, btw?",
").",
"Some tracks are considered rather uneven, like \"Country Pie\", \"Peggy Day\", and \"Nashville Skyline Rag\".",
"This album also marks the first time the critical establishment was rather wary at supporting their favorite nasal-singing troubador, who just a few years before this was released had been spouting wild lyrics about Siamese cats and everybody must get stoned to this rather lightweight material, and instead is singing country ballads and stuff like \"I'd love to spend the night with Peggy Day.",
"\" Not only that, he's singing in a voice that totally departs from his other work, making this even more of a shock.",
"This would, in a very short time, explode into a full scale assault with the release of Self Portrait, although a few (just a few) could have gotten onto this release and sounded right at home.",
"The biggest problem with this album is how SHORT it is.",
"One of my biggest pet peeves are short albums, and I think a minimum for an album is 30 minutes.",
"Anything below that is a travesty to the buying public, especially now when records can be so much longer because of CD technology.",
"All of Dylan's LPs that went before this with the exception of his debut and JOHN WESLEY HARDING ranged in the 50 minute range, with BLONDE ON BLONDE being 73 minutes long, the very first double album ever, though not a double album by Dylan standards (it would have had to be 100 minutes long).",
"This album, clocking in at under 27 minutes, does not even constitute only constitues a side of his other releases from the 1960s.",
"And the material that is here, one's an insturmental and the other's a rehash from the 1963 protest release.",
"\"Country Pie\", a certified country rock, dies at 1:35, Peggy Day is VERY lightweight, and with an album this short anyway it doesn't have the material to lose any.",
"While several people like his duet with the man in Black, I've never been a big Cash fan so it is alright but just not the best.",
"Coming from the man who pioneered longer songs (despite what The Doors say), there's not a song longer than three and a half minutes here.",
"So what songs does it leave us?",
"\"Lay Lady Lay\", which, though sexually driven, departs from the Christian morality I embrace of sexual unity in marriage only.",
"\"Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You\", depending on how you interpert it, is like \"Lay Lady Lay\", which for this listener counts this out too, or perhaps not.",
"So that leaves us with a few compositions, but hardly enough to make an album.",
"From a personal perspective, this album is hardly an album at all, but I can see why it is as acclaimed as it is.",
"\"I Threw It All Away\" stands as one of my all-time favorite Dylan tunes, and \"Tell Me It Isn't True\" stands head and shoulders above a lot of other songs.",
"Had \"Lay Lady Lay\" been more marriage oriented I would really like it, because I really dig the sound.",
"Ah, such is life.",
"As it stands, this album makes an interesting listen, despite the fact that it seems to be hardly an album at all.",
"This is the only bonified country album I do listen too, and this release does constitue a 5 star rating from AllMusic Guide.",
"It is an interesting direction that Dylan took though."
]
|
This is a good read for the price but it could have been so much better. Like so many fantasy stories this is a quest of self discovery and growth. There are some fabulous ideas in the story such as how goblins are born and the world of the Protectorate is neatly developed. I also enjoyed the way that our heros are not from noble ,true or glorious ancestors but rather from the wrong side. But I do hate it when an emerging new world has references to ours. For example Jack plays poker. Suddenly I am dragged out of this imaginative world into 21st century Earth. Why not just let him play cards.
It may be because the two central heros were teenagers but I found the supporting characters much more interesting. Prudence, Zanzibar and Tom Fisk are rough, engaging and memorable, each individually drawn with warts and all. Even the tautho Daniel is a very believable character. But the two kids are amazingly bland ( though their roles are the reverse of so many male/female protaganists ) and Olive is given some of the most excruciating lines to say.
Maybe I am mean giving this book such an average review as the price was so reasonable but it was so close to being a great fantasy novel that I felt very frustrated. If you have not read much fantasy or just want an easy read this may be the book for you. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is a good read for the price but it could have been so much better.",
"Like so many fantasy stories this is a quest of self discovery and growth.",
"There are some fabulous ideas in the story such as how goblins are born and the world of the Protectorate is neatly developed.",
"I also enjoyed the way that our heros are not from noble ,true or glorious ancestors but rather from the wrong side.",
"But I do hate it when an emerging new world has references to ours.",
"For example Jack plays poker.",
"Suddenly I am dragged out of this imaginative world into 21st century Earth.",
"Why not just let him play cards.",
"It may be because the two central heros were teenagers but I found the supporting characters much more interesting.",
"Prudence, Zanzibar and Tom Fisk are rough, engaging and memorable, each individually drawn with warts and all.",
"Even the tautho Daniel is a very believable character.",
"But the two kids are amazingly bland ( though their roles are the reverse of so many male/female protaganists ) and Olive is given some of the most excruciating lines to say.",
"Maybe I am mean giving this book such an average review as the price was so reasonable but it was so close to being a great fantasy novel that I felt very frustrated.",
"If you have not read much fantasy or just want an easy read this may be the book for you."
]
|
i had no problems installing or playing these games on my xp based pc. none at all, unless you consider not being able to export or import characters a problem. that's the only trouble i had.
i accept the fact that d&d games are fantasy and as such i expect them to be unrealistic. but these games were beyond fantastic. they are ludicrous. i say this because i shouldn't have to use a walk-through to play the game, but that's what i ended up doing. then i progressed to using the cheat codes. why do i need cheat codes to play a game? my complaint is that without the cheat codes and walk-through, i found the games - esp. 2,3, &4 - unplayable.
my second complaint is that the storyline is tenuously connected, and frequently digressive. i ultimately ended up with items that i was unsure had reached their end of life cycle. there were way too many quests that served no purpose, only contributing to making the game drawn out and boring.
and hearing the same dialogue from the main characters got aggravating to the point where i just wanted to abandon them or kill them off myself, or have them killed off.
i honestly don't see how this game got so many five star reviews. life is too short to spend it bogged down in a fantasy game that requires all of my time. sure, baldurs gate is a classic d&d game; it has a beautiful presentation, nice graphics, and it's fun. but it does drag on and on, and on and on and on ... | 1 | neutral | [
"i had no problems installing or playing these games on my xp based pc.",
"none at all, unless you consider not being able to export or import characters a problem.",
"that's the only trouble i had.",
"i accept the fact that d&d games are fantasy and as such i expect them to be unrealistic.",
"but these games were beyond fantastic.",
"they are ludicrous.",
"i say this because i shouldn't have to use a walk-through to play the game, but that's what i ended up doing.",
"then i progressed to using the cheat codes.",
"why do i need cheat codes to play a game?",
"my complaint is that without the cheat codes and walk-through, i found the games - esp.",
"2,3, &4 - unplayable.",
"my second complaint is that the storyline is tenuously connected, and frequently digressive.",
"i ultimately ended up with items that i was unsure had reached their end of life cycle.",
"there were way too many quests that served no purpose, only contributing to making the game drawn out and boring.",
"and hearing the same dialogue from the main characters got aggravating to the point where i just wanted to abandon them or kill them off myself, or have them killed off.",
"i honestly don't see how this game got so many five star reviews.",
"life is too short to spend it bogged down in a fantasy game that requires all of my time.",
"sure, baldurs gate is a classic d&d game; it has a beautiful presentation, nice graphics, and it's fun.",
"but it does drag on and on, and on and on and on..."
]
|
It's ok, but nothing spectacular. The base is solid, and the swivel and adjustable height are nice features. It does seem to tilt slightly, which is to be expected given the support is not centered. It helps to place the baby with his/her head on the elevated side, over the support pole. The electronic accessory pad is essentially useless. The lights are blocked by the mesh, and if you use the infant insert, only a scant amount of light gets through. Also, if you use the electronics at all, be prepared to go through A LOT of batteries. The vibration feature is the most egregious offender. After two sets of batteries, which lasted maybe 10 hours total, I gave up. For the price, I would expect a better product that at least has a rechargeable battery or AC plugin. The buttons for the front rail drop-down are hard to access, and the feature overall is not very useful. This bassinet is an ok product, but arguably overpriced for what you get. Other, less expensive bassinets are likely a much better value, especially given the design flaws present. | 1 | neutral | [
"It's ok, but nothing spectacular.",
"The base is solid, and the swivel and adjustable height are nice features.",
"It does seem to tilt slightly, which is to be expected given the support is not centered.",
"It helps to place the baby with his/her head on the elevated side, over the support pole.",
"The electronic accessory pad is essentially useless.",
"The lights are blocked by the mesh, and if you use the infant insert, only a scant amount of light gets through.",
"Also, if you use the electronics at all, be prepared to go through A LOT of batteries.",
"The vibration feature is the most egregious offender.",
"After two sets of batteries, which lasted maybe 10 hours total, I gave up.",
"For the price, I would expect a better product that at least has a rechargeable battery or AC plugin.",
"The buttons for the front rail drop-down are hard to access, and the feature overall is not very useful.",
"This bassinet is an ok product, but arguably overpriced for what you get.",
"Other, less expensive bassinets are likely a much better value, especially given the design flaws present."
]
|
These aren't all THAT bad, but seem slightly long. I'm a big guy, and the sizing was pretty much spot on in the waist. The only real sizing complaint I have is the thighs.. they are abnormally tight for some reason. I am a cyclist and have pretty meaty thighs, but these are oddly tight. Don't get me wrong though, they aren't spandex tight.. or so tight that I wouldn't wear them. Just tight enough to not fit perfectly.
The quality of the material is impressive. Adidas is normally good about using good quality material, and that they did in this case. They are a bit warm, but they do well on rather cold fall jogs. They have lasted me about a year and still are in good shape, so even though they are a bit expensive I suppose I got my money out of them. | 1 | neutral | [
"These aren't all THAT bad, but seem slightly long.",
"I'm a big guy, and the sizing was pretty much spot on in the waist.",
"The only real sizing complaint I have is the thighs..",
"they are abnormally tight for some reason.",
"I am a cyclist and have pretty meaty thighs, but these are oddly tight.",
"Don't get me wrong though, they aren't spandex tight..",
"or so tight that I wouldn't wear them.",
"Just tight enough to not fit perfectly.",
"The quality of the material is impressive.",
"Adidas is normally good about using good quality material, and that they did in this case.",
"They are a bit warm, but they do well on rather cold fall jogs.",
"They have lasted me about a year and still are in good shape, so even though they are a bit expensive I suppose I got my money out of them."
]
|
I enjoyed this, but couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like as a FPS. I didn't find the character movement all that fluid, and cover was def. a tricky manuever, esp. when the fighting was intense and you were moving alot. The graphics were really detailed but kind of blah in alot of places to me...There is nothing wrong with this game; I had fun, but wasn't sad when it was over. It just didn't do all that much for me. Oh wait...it made me want to play BLACK and DOOM 3 again...NOTE: This is only a single player mode review; I have yet to take it online; If my opinion changes after an online experience, it will be duely noted! That is all.... | 1 | neutral | [
"I enjoyed this, but couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like as a FPS.",
"I didn't find the character movement all that fluid, and cover was def.",
"a tricky manuever, esp.",
"when the fighting was intense and you were moving alot.",
"The graphics were really detailed but kind of blah in alot of places to me...",
"There is nothing wrong with this game; I had fun, but wasn't sad when it was over.",
"It just didn't do all that much for me.",
"Oh wait...",
"it made me want to play BLACK and DOOM 3 again...",
"NOTE: This is only a single player mode review; I have yet to take it online; If my opinion changes after an online experience, it will be duely noted!",
"That is all...."
]
|
We bought a pair of these from the AT&T store when we bought our phones. The durable plastic exterior combined with the rubberized interior gave us hope that they would adequately protect our phones. So far they've done a great job of that. They were on sale and the plastic-rubber design with the rubberized side grips made them a simple choice amongst all the options in the store.
Casemate provides a lifetime warranty with their product. However, that lifetime warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear. In our case (in both of our cases) that wear and tear occurred along the thin strip of material between the home button and the charging port. My wife's went first around the 6-month point and mine followed a month later. The hard plastic cracks and after that it's only a matter of time before the rubber under it starts to stretch and tear. With that thin strip damaged the rest of the case begins to lose it's snug fit and your phone starts to slip out.
Overall the case does a great job of protecting your phone (as far as we can tell). However, it just doesn't last long. It would be nice if the case could last more than a year (at least through the mobile phone contract). However, I guess it's not listed as a "rugged" case. If you want a cheap and protective case, this will fit your iPhone 4. But don't expect it to last for the life of your phone. Casemate should probably look at the engineering on this case, or retire the product line.
*Oh and don't forget to add on a screen protector. If you carry your phone in the same spot as you do keys or change you'll want to keep that glass scratch free as long as possible.* | 1 | neutral | [
"We bought a pair of these from the AT&T store when we bought our phones.",
"The durable plastic exterior combined with the rubberized interior gave us hope that they would adequately protect our phones.",
"So far they've done a great job of that.",
"They were on sale and the plastic-rubber design with the rubberized side grips made them a simple choice amongst all the options in the store.",
"Casemate provides a lifetime warranty with their product.",
"However, that lifetime warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear.",
"In our case (in both of our cases) that wear and tear occurred along the thin strip of material between the home button and the charging port.",
"My wife's went first around the 6-month point and mine followed a month later.",
"The hard plastic cracks and after that it's only a matter of time before the rubber under it starts to stretch and tear.",
"With that thin strip damaged the rest of the case begins to lose it's snug fit and your phone starts to slip out.",
"Overall the case does a great job of protecting your phone (as far as we can tell).",
"However, it just doesn't last long.",
"It would be nice if the case could last more than a year (at least through the mobile phone contract).",
"However, I guess it's not listed as a \"rugged\" case.",
"If you want a cheap and protective case, this will fit your iPhone 4.",
"But don't expect it to last for the life of your phone.",
"Casemate should probably look at the engineering on this case, or retire the product line.",
"*Oh and don't forget to add on a screen protector.",
"If you carry your phone in the same spot as you do keys or change you'll want to keep that glass scratch free as long as possible.",
"*"
]
|
Nassar scandal has Michigan State president facing call to resign
The president of Michigan State University faced a call for her resignation Saturday over the school's handling of a sexual assault scandal involving former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar .
âAs I expressed repeatedly to fellow board members during our discussion Friday I don't believe President Simon can survive the public outcry that has been generated by this tragedy and even less so after hearing the testimony of these brave survivors of Larry Nassar 's abuse â he said.
More than 80 girls and women including some Olympians gave statements at last week's sentencing for Nassar who worked at MSU and as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics.
Since the allegations became public more than 140 girls and women â including Olympic gold medalists McKayla Maroney Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles â have accused Nassar of abuse. Some assaults even took place at his university office.
At least 14 MSU officials were notified of the allegations against Nassar in the two decades before his shocking arrest according to the Detroit Newsâ investigation. However the school repeatedly missed opportunities to take action the report said.
âI was informed that a sports medicine doctor was under investigation â Simon told the newspaper last week after appearing in court for a Nassar sentencing hearing. âI told people to play it straight up and I did not receive a copy of the report. Thatâs the truth.â | 1 | neutral | [
"Nassar scandal has Michigan State president facing call to resign\nThe president of Michigan State University faced a call for her resignation Saturday over the school's handling of a sexual assault scandal involving former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.",
"âAs I expressed repeatedly to fellow board members during our discussion Friday I don't believe President Simon can survive the public outcry that has been generated by this tragedy and even less so after hearing the testimony of these brave survivors of Larry Nassar 's abuse â he said.",
"More than 80 girls and women including some Olympians gave statements at last week's sentencing for Nassar who worked at MSU and as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics.",
"Since the allegations became public more than 140 girls and women â including Olympic gold medalists McKayla Maroney Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles â have accused Nassar of abuse.",
"Some assaults even took place at his university office.",
"At least 14 MSU officials were notified of the allegations against Nassar in the two decades before his shocking arrest according to the Detroit Newsâ investigation.",
"However the school repeatedly missed opportunities to take action the report said.",
"âI was informed that a sports medicine doctor was under investigation â Simon told the newspaper last week after appearing in court for a Nassar sentencing hearing.",
"âI told people to play it straight up and I did not receive a copy of the report.",
"Thatâs the truth.",
"â"
]
|
Veteran of war in Afghanistan loses appeal could be deported soon attorney says
In a statement Perez âs supporters said Monday the ruling has left his family âdistraught.â
Family photo Photo of Miguel Perez Jr. when he was in the Army. Perez is facing deportation after being arrested on drug charges and serving a 7-year prison term. Photo of Miguel Perez Jr. when he was in the Army. Perez is facing deportation after being arrested on drug charges and serving a 7-year prison term. (Family photo) (Family photo)
Perez said he mistakenly thought he became a U.S. citizen when he took an oath to protect the nation. His military superiors never offered to help him expedite his citizenship Bergin reiterated in court Wednesday.
After his military service Perez sought treatment at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Maywood where doctors diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder. He was supposed to return for more tests to determine whether he also had a traumatic brain injury.
In the meantime he reconnected with a childhood friend who provided free drugs and alcohol. On Nov. 26 2008 while with that friend Perez handed a laptop case containing cocaine to an undercover officer. Perez pleaded guilty to the drug charge and served half of a 15-year prison sentence.
While Perez was convicted of delivering less than 100 grams of cocaine prosecutors have said he was arrested for delivering much more and received a reduced sentence after a plea deal. Prosecutors also pointed out that Perez was given a general discharge from the military after a drug infraction.
Perez said he discovered the citizenship oversight when he was summoned to immigration court shortly before his September 2016 release from Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg. Instead of heading home to Chicago from prison Perez was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and transferred to a Wisconsin detention center for immigrants awaiting deportation.
Miguel and Esperanza Perez discuss their son Miguel Perez Jr. an Army veteran who is facing deportation after serving seven years in a state penitentiary on a drug charge. Feb. 3 2017. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) Miguel and Esperanza Perez discuss their son Miguel Perez Jr. an Army veteran who is facing deportation after serving seven years in a state penitentiary on a drug charge. Feb. 3 2017. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) SEE MORE VIDEOS
In court Perez cited the United Nations Convention against Torture a protection that resembles asylum. Under that international provision the U.S. agrees not to deport people who are not American citizens or nationals to another country where they could face imminent danger.
Prosecutors rejected the argument that the danger allegedly facing Perez qualifies under the torture provision and asked the judges to affirm the immigration courtâs order for removal.
Bergin said he has filed a stay on two grounds. One is based on a medical evaluation finding that Perez needs immediate attention for PTSD and his brain injury. The other seeks retroactive citizenship for Perez to when he joined the military in 2001.
Perez and his supporters are also preparing if necessary to file an appeal to the full panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit and have asked Gov. Bruce Rauner to grant a pardon to Perez for his criminal conviction supporters said. If Rauner grants the pardon itâs not clear how that might affect the deportation case. | 1 | neutral | [
"Veteran of war in Afghanistan loses appeal could be deported soon attorney says\nIn a statement Perez âs supporters said Monday the ruling has left his family âdistraught.",
"â\nFamily photo Photo of Miguel Perez Jr.",
"when he was in the Army.",
"Perez is facing deportation after being arrested on drug charges and serving a 7-year prison term.",
"Photo of Miguel Perez Jr.",
"when he was in the Army.",
"Perez is facing deportation after being arrested on drug charges and serving a 7-year prison term.",
"(Family photo) (Family photo)\n Perez said he mistakenly thought he became a U.",
"S. citizen when he took an oath to protect the nation.",
"His military superiors never offered to help him expedite his citizenship Bergin reiterated in court Wednesday.",
"After his military service Perez sought treatment at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Maywood where doctors diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder.",
"He was supposed to return for more tests to determine whether he also had a traumatic brain injury.",
"In the meantime he reconnected with a childhood friend who provided free drugs and alcohol.",
"On Nov.",
"26 2008 while with that friend Perez handed a laptop case containing cocaine to an undercover officer.",
"Perez pleaded guilty to the drug charge and served half of a 15-year prison sentence.",
"While Perez was convicted of delivering less than 100 grams of cocaine prosecutors have said he was arrested for delivering much more and received a reduced sentence after a plea deal.",
"Prosecutors also pointed out that Perez was given a general discharge from the military after a drug infraction.",
"Perez said he discovered the citizenship oversight when he was summoned to immigration court shortly before his September 2016 release from Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg.",
"Instead of heading home to Chicago from prison Perez was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and transferred to a Wisconsin detention center for immigrants awaiting deportation.",
"Miguel and Esperanza Perez discuss their son Miguel Perez Jr.",
"an Army veteran who is facing deportation after serving seven years in a state penitentiary on a drug charge.",
"Feb.",
"3 2017.",
"(Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) Miguel and Esperanza Perez discuss their son Miguel Perez Jr.",
"an Army veteran who is facing deportation after serving seven years in a state penitentiary on a drug charge.",
"Feb.",
"3 2017.",
"(Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) SEE MORE VIDEOS\nIn court Perez cited the United Nations Convention against Torture a protection that resembles asylum.",
"Under that international provision the U.",
"S. agrees not to deport people who are not American citizens or nationals to another country where they could face imminent danger.",
"Prosecutors rejected the argument that the danger allegedly facing Perez qualifies under the torture provision and asked the judges to affirm the immigration courtâs order for removal.",
"Bergin said he has filed a stay on two grounds.",
"One is based on a medical evaluation finding that Perez needs immediate attention for PTSD and his brain injury.",
"The other seeks retroactive citizenship for Perez to when he joined the military in 2001.",
"Perez and his supporters are also preparing if necessary to file an appeal to the full panel of the 7th U.",
"S. Circuit and have asked Gov.",
"Bruce Rauner to grant a pardon to Perez for his criminal conviction supporters said.",
"If Rauner grants the pardon itâs not clear how that might affect the deportation case."
]
|
Thermos is the Japanese company (some reviewer says it's a canada company). I have been using their products for over 20 years ago. When I found this mug available in USA, I purchased one for my husband, so he can take a cup of hot coffee to enjoy it during traffic jam. He likes the tight lock of this mug. No more spill!! He also like the temperature of the coffee. The insulated wall really works!
The first month after using this mug, I found the lid can be separated into 3 parts: The top, the container shaped bottom, and a rubber band. It was very yucky first time I dis-assembled the lid as coffee and cream get into it through the seam. Ever since, I dis-assemble the lid every time I wash the mug. A little hassle, but for my hubby to enjoy a cup of nice & hot coffee, it can be tolerated! | 1 | neutral | [
"Thermos is the Japanese company (some reviewer says it's a canada company).",
"I have been using their products for over 20 years ago.",
"When I found this mug available in USA, I purchased one for my husband, so he can take a cup of hot coffee to enjoy it during traffic jam.",
"He likes the tight lock of this mug.",
"No more spill!!",
"He also like the temperature of the coffee.",
"The insulated wall really works!",
"The first month after using this mug, I found the lid can be separated into 3 parts: The top, the container shaped bottom, and a rubber band.",
"It was very yucky first time I dis-assembled the lid as coffee and cream get into it through the seam.",
"Ever since, I dis-assemble the lid every time I wash the mug.",
"A little hassle, but for my hubby to enjoy a cup of nice & hot coffee, it can be tolerated!"
]
|
This feeder is OK so far. I've had it for a few months on a pole (not hanging) and the birds do seem to like it. It's light plastic but has held up to a winter storm feeding frenzy assault by starlings so far. I like that the 'silo' has ports that can be changed out for finch feeder holes or regular seed dispnesers. I used it for niger seed with the small hole dispensers and the birds have emptied it (though I haven't actually witnessed any since I put it into a location I don't observe often). The only problem I have so far is that when I take off the little red cupola top that lets you fill the main body, it has some sort of tube with openings that is probably supposed to help distribute the seed into different directions in the body of the barn. And this tube clogs up unless I use the smallest seed and pour slowly. We bought this to match our real life gambrel roof barn so it's fine and cute, but the slight hich in filling it is a small annoyance. Not sure why they did that. Other than that, I like that the little red fill port covers have cords attached so they don't fall away or get lost. | 1 | neutral | [
"This feeder is OK so far.",
"I've had it for a few months on a pole (not hanging) and the birds do seem to like it.",
"It's light plastic but has held up to a winter storm feeding frenzy assault by starlings so far.",
"I like that the 'silo' has ports that can be changed out for finch feeder holes or regular seed dispnesers.",
"I used it for niger seed with the small hole dispensers and the birds have emptied it (though I haven't actually witnessed any since I put it into a location I don't observe often).",
"The only problem I have so far is that when I take off the little red cupola top that lets you fill the main body, it has some sort of tube with openings that is probably supposed to help distribute the seed into different directions in the body of the barn.",
"And this tube clogs up unless I use the smallest seed and pour slowly.",
"We bought this to match our real life gambrel roof barn so it's fine and cute, but the slight hich in filling it is a small annoyance.",
"Not sure why they did that.",
"Other than that, I like that the little red fill port covers have cords attached so they don't fall away or get lost."
]
|
Too fast.
Too ridiculous.
Hot? Hell, yes.
Too fast.
Not Ms. Hart's best work. Not even close.
The characters were just starting to get good.
There was no sexual tension...just sexual taking.
The plot? Um, yeah, should have one. Does it? Not so much.
Dialogue? Pretty good, some bordering on ridiculous.
Not her best. | 1 | neutral | [
"Too fast.",
"Too ridiculous.",
"Hot?",
"Hell, yes.",
"Too fast.",
"Not Ms.",
"Hart's best work.",
"Not even close.",
"The characters were just starting to get good.",
"There was no sexual tension...",
"just sexual taking.",
"The plot?",
"Um, yeah, should have one.",
"Does it?",
"Not so much.",
"Dialogue?",
"Pretty good, some bordering on ridiculous.",
"Not her best."
]
|
Living life on the run has become second nature for Kiran Tate and Logan Saeter. As the years go by the man they are running from, Oliver Grimm, gets closer and closer to catching and ultimately destroying them. Determined to end the battle between them and Grimm, Kiran and Logan search out Grimm's step - granddaughter and private eye Jordan Grey to help them. When they meet Jordan they find they have two tasks at hand; convincing her that they are Norse Gods on the run from Odin who was framing them for murder and who happens to be her step-grandfather but more importantly than that is convincing her that she belongs in their bed.
Jordan doesn't know what to make of the two gorgeous men that walked into her office, but from the moment she met them they turned her world upside down.
Very Much Alive is a very eclectic story, with gorgeous shapeshifting Norse Gods, hot sex and a plot that carries over centuries, but it wasn't enough to hold my interest. I found the characters to be very irritating especially Kir and Logan and Jordan's siblings. However I did like Jordan, she was the saving grace of this story. I think the author was going for quirky, tongue and cheek with this story but it didn't come across very well. Men shape shifting into cars to drive their lovers around just didn't work for me. Although Very Much Alive was not my cup of tea, it could be a fun story for others.
Ley
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed | 1 | neutral | [
"Living life on the run has become second nature for Kiran Tate and Logan Saeter.",
"As the years go by the man they are running from, Oliver Grimm, gets closer and closer to catching and ultimately destroying them.",
"Determined to end the battle between them and Grimm, Kiran and Logan search out Grimm's step - granddaughter and private eye Jordan Grey to help them.",
"When they meet Jordan they find they have two tasks at hand; convincing her that they are Norse Gods on the run from Odin who was framing them for murder and who happens to be her step-grandfather but more importantly than that is convincing her that she belongs in their bed.",
"Jordan doesn't know what to make of the two gorgeous men that walked into her office, but from the moment she met them they turned her world upside down.",
"Very Much Alive is a very eclectic story, with gorgeous shapeshifting Norse Gods, hot sex and a plot that carries over centuries, but it wasn't enough to hold my interest.",
"I found the characters to be very irritating especially Kir and Logan and Jordan's siblings.",
"However I did like Jordan, she was the saving grace of this story.",
"I think the author was going for quirky, tongue and cheek with this story but it didn't come across very well.",
"Men shape shifting into cars to drive their lovers around just didn't work for me.",
"Although Very Much Alive was not my cup of tea, it could be a fun story for others.",
"Ley\nReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed"
]
|
My family loves Slim Jims. The smokey awesomeness of each delicious bite fills your senses and leaves a mouth-watering flavor that makes you want more. When the giant Slim Jim came up, my kids begged me to select it. The flavor was relatively the same, but the texture leaves you feeling like you've just eaten paper -- which makes it less appetizing. I'm not sure exactly what has changed but the giant Slim Jim seems to be much more slim than the regular size ones thus maybe making the wrapper more overpowering. Not to the point that we didn't want to eat it, but enough that we will not be buying these particular Slim Jims. Maybe if you went with the flavored variety instead of the regular smoked flavor it would taste better? Price-wise, it's not a bad value. Amazon currently lists it for $21.26 for a pack of 24 Giant Slim Jims. | 1 | neutral | [
"My family loves Slim Jims.",
"The smokey awesomeness of each delicious bite fills your senses and leaves a mouth-watering flavor that makes you want more.",
"When the giant Slim Jim came up, my kids begged me to select it.",
"The flavor was relatively the same, but the texture leaves you feeling like you've just eaten paper -- which makes it less appetizing.",
"I'm not sure exactly what has changed but the giant Slim Jim seems to be much more slim than the regular size ones thus maybe making the wrapper more overpowering.",
"Not to the point that we didn't want to eat it, but enough that we will not be buying these particular Slim Jims.",
"Maybe if you went with the flavored variety instead of the regular smoked flavor it would taste better?",
"Price-wise, it's not a bad value.",
"Amazon currently lists it for $21.",
"26 for a pack of 24 Giant Slim Jims."
]
|
This movie is good. It is not great, but it covers a lot of bases. The directing is excellent, with camera work and scene structure that builds to a worthy end. The acting is great, with Renee Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal remaining captivating throughout. Gyllenhaal's character deeply flawed protagonist is excellent as it delicately balances multiple deep character flaws that leave you uncertain and curious to know what happens next. But the story is... unsatisfying. Anticlimactic. Poor. And far worse. Without spoilers I will do the best I can. Jake Gyllenhaal portrays a character who has no character arc, that is not the point of this movie. He starts off desperate and hungry for success, and he ends the same way. We only see the slightest suggestions of him becoming more successful, and we see how far he will go for that success - but this is not new, as we see him go just as far in the opening minutes of the film. Though I imagine everyone is expecting the movie and plot to go in a certain direction (because it is an absurdly cliche story that you have seen before in TV shows, other movies, and books), the movie ends up aiming slightly lower to avoid being entirely cliche. I am certain that at some point the writer/director realized that this was just another retelling of an old trope, and tried to edit the ending to make it a tad less obvious. It does not benefit the movie. Taking a trope and making it weaker does not make a strong movie, it makes a forgettable movie. That is what this movie is - incredibly forgettable. But that is not all that is wrong with the writing in this film. Gyllenhaal's character is clearly autistic (and the writer/director has confirmed this is intentional) to the point that this comes off as a hit piece about people with autism. I have worked with people on the spectrum and while Gyllenhaal's portrayal of an autistic protagonist is well done, the writing behind it disastrously misunderstands what autism is. While the writing has Gyllenhaal correctly neglecting enormous social cues, it also portrays him as obscenely manipulative, exercising such enormous control over social situations that it is absurd. To be frank, regardless of how high functioning Jake Gyllenhaal's character is supposed to be, he cannot both be autistic and simultaneously be so ridiculously successfully manipulative in social situations. This movie makes autistic people out to be self centered villains who will stop at absolutely nothing to obtain what they want. It is a disgustingly misinformed examination of autism. At this point you may be wondering why this movie has such high reviews. While it may be due to Jake Gyllenhaal's convincing glass eyed smiles or Renee Russo's believable portrayal of a struggling exec, I think it also has to do with a less impressive aspect of the film. This movie aims for low hanging fruit, criticizing the news media for being exploitative and corrupt. Literally all of America (and much of the world) has an issue with this right now, the only difference from person to person being exactly which stations they think are worse. I am not saying the media does not deserve this criticism (it really does), and the movie does an excellent job at portraying how ratings come before morality - I am just saying that this is the modern equivalent of making an 80's scifi movie where the military and government are the villains. But that is it. A huge cliche aimed at an easy target. A disgustingly inaccurate portrayal of a person with autism. A well directed movie with a very low goal that completely succeeds at what it is trying to do, but will be forgotten by the next day. | 1 | neutral | [
"This movie is good.",
"It is not great, but it covers a lot of bases.",
"The directing is excellent, with camera work and scene structure that builds to a worthy end.",
"The acting is great, with Renee Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal remaining captivating throughout.",
"Gyllenhaal's character deeply flawed protagonist is excellent as it delicately balances multiple deep character flaws that leave you uncertain and curious to know what happens next.",
"But the story is...",
"unsatisfying.",
"Anticlimactic.",
"Poor.",
"And far worse.",
"Without spoilers I will do the best I can.",
"Jake Gyllenhaal portrays a character who has no character arc, that is not the point of this movie.",
"He starts off desperate and hungry for success, and he ends the same way.",
"We only see the slightest suggestions of him becoming more successful, and we see how far he will go for that success - but this is not new, as we see him go just as far in the opening minutes of the film.",
"Though I imagine everyone is expecting the movie and plot to go in a certain direction (because it is an absurdly cliche story that you have seen before in TV shows, other movies, and books), the movie ends up aiming slightly lower to avoid being entirely cliche.",
"I am certain that at some point the writer/director realized that this was just another retelling of an old trope, and tried to edit the ending to make it a tad less obvious.",
"It does not benefit the movie.",
"Taking a trope and making it weaker does not make a strong movie, it makes a forgettable movie.",
"That is what this movie is - incredibly forgettable.",
"But that is not all that is wrong with the writing in this film.",
"Gyllenhaal's character is clearly autistic (and the writer/director has confirmed this is intentional) to the point that this comes off as a hit piece about people with autism.",
"I have worked with people on the spectrum and while Gyllenhaal's portrayal of an autistic protagonist is well done, the writing behind it disastrously misunderstands what autism is.",
"While the writing has Gyllenhaal correctly neglecting enormous social cues, it also portrays him as obscenely manipulative, exercising such enormous control over social situations that it is absurd.",
"To be frank, regardless of how high functioning Jake Gyllenhaal's character is supposed to be, he cannot both be autistic and simultaneously be so ridiculously successfully manipulative in social situations.",
"This movie makes autistic people out to be self centered villains who will stop at absolutely nothing to obtain what they want.",
"It is a disgustingly misinformed examination of autism.",
"At this point you may be wondering why this movie has such high reviews.",
"While it may be due to Jake Gyllenhaal's convincing glass eyed smiles or Renee Russo's believable portrayal of a struggling exec, I think it also has to do with a less impressive aspect of the film.",
"This movie aims for low hanging fruit, criticizing the news media for being exploitative and corrupt.",
"Literally all of America (and much of the world) has an issue with this right now, the only difference from person to person being exactly which stations they think are worse.",
"I am not saying the media does not deserve this criticism (it really does), and the movie does an excellent job at portraying how ratings come before morality - I am just saying that this is the modern equivalent of making an 80's scifi movie where the military and government are the villains.",
"But that is it.",
"A huge cliche aimed at an easy target.",
"A disgustingly inaccurate portrayal of a person with autism.",
"A well directed movie with a very low goal that completely succeeds at what it is trying to do, but will be forgotten by the next day."
]
|
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