text
stringlengths 114
22.4k
| label
int64 0
2
| label_text
stringclasses 3
values | sentences
sequencelengths 10
828
|
---|---|---|---|
For when you need a REALLY big sharpie. Works great. And it's tip is big, as the name would note... Magnum. I never hesitate to update my reviews should new info seem useful, nor do I shy away from answering comments/questions. I do NOT receive compensation of ANY kind for my reviews. My purchases are VERIFIED, FULL price and 100% independent. As are my reviews! They are fully my opinion, which could differ from yours - and that's ok. Happy shopping! | 2 | positive | [
"For when you need a REALLY big sharpie.",
"Works great.",
"And it's tip is big, as the name would note...",
"Magnum.",
"I never hesitate to update my reviews should new info seem useful, nor do I shy away from answering comments/questions.",
"I do NOT receive compensation of ANY kind for my reviews.",
"My purchases are VERIFIED, FULL price and 100% independent.",
"As are my reviews!",
"They are fully my opinion, which could differ from yours - and that's ok.",
"Happy shopping!"
] |
I'm not a book reviewer rather a book reader and writer.
I like the fast pace of James Patterson's books and his short chapters. This is the second one I've read of the Alex Cross series. I'm a slow reader only because I don't read a book in one sitting. I read it in between writing my novels and researching writing techniques and participating on writing boards. I'd say though with this book I became a faster reader, wanting to finish it. It kept me on edge with one twist and turn and new info with each page as the mystery of whodunit unfolded and became clearer. It was definitely a page turner, hooking me from the first page to the last.
I purchased another author's book, which had excellent reviews, and could never keep my interest in the novel. I'm going to stick with James Patterson, Michael Connelly, and Michael Weaver for thrillers. | 2 | positive | [
"I'm not a book reviewer rather a book reader and writer.",
"I like the fast pace of James Patterson's books and his short chapters.",
"This is the second one I've read of the Alex Cross series.",
"I'm a slow reader only because I don't read a book in one sitting.",
"I read it in between writing my novels and researching writing techniques and participating on writing boards.",
"I'd say though with this book I became a faster reader, wanting to finish it.",
"It kept me on edge with one twist and turn and new info with each page as the mystery of whodunit unfolded and became clearer.",
"It was definitely a page turner, hooking me from the first page to the last.",
"I purchased another author's book, which had excellent reviews, and could never keep my interest in the novel.",
"I'm going to stick with James Patterson, Michael Connelly, and Michael Weaver for thrillers."
] |
Arrived on time and in perfect condition.
I'm going to tell you a story about Red Heart yarn :) My mom used it a lot. She made matching sweaters for my 2 younger brothers from what was then their (early 1970s) "economy" yarn. My brothers wore the sweaters until they grew out of them. My middle brother somehow managed to save his, and gave it to me for my son to wear. My son wore it until he grew out of it. Now my oldest grandson is wearing it. Yes, i'm not kidding. The sweater is 30-some years old - and it hasn't faded, stretched, pilled, or anything else - it looks as good as the day my mom finished it. It has been machine washed and dried. no special care at all. It used to be called "Coats & Clark Red Heart" yarn. Both my grandmother and mother used their yarn, embroidery floss, crochet thread, etc. If you look on the label it's still made by Coats & Clark.
Pay NO attention to any reviews. This yarn is fine for any everyday items- hats, scarves, mittens, afghans. kids clothes, shawls, blankets and yes, baby stuff. It's soft and yet it wears like iron. You simply cannot go wrong with Red Heart yarn. So yes i will undoubtedly buy more for new projects, and yes i would heartily recommend to a friend. | 2 | positive | [
"Arrived on time and in perfect condition.",
"I'm going to tell you a story about Red Heart yarn :) My mom used it a lot.",
"She made matching sweaters for my 2 younger brothers from what was then their (early 1970s) \"economy\" yarn.",
"My brothers wore the sweaters until they grew out of them.",
"My middle brother somehow managed to save his, and gave it to me for my son to wear.",
"My son wore it until he grew out of it.",
"Now my oldest grandson is wearing it.",
"Yes, i'm not kidding.",
"The sweater is 30-some years old - and it hasn't faded, stretched, pilled, or anything else - it looks as good as the day my mom finished it.",
"It has been machine washed and dried.",
"no special care at all.",
"It used to be called \"Coats & Clark Red Heart\" yarn.",
"Both my grandmother and mother used their yarn, embroidery floss, crochet thread, etc.",
"If you look on the label it's still made by Coats & Clark.",
"Pay NO attention to any reviews.",
"This yarn is fine for any everyday items- hats, scarves, mittens, afghans.",
"kids clothes, shawls, blankets and yes, baby stuff.",
"It's soft and yet it wears like iron.",
"You simply cannot go wrong with Red Heart yarn.",
"So yes i will undoubtedly buy more for new projects, and yes i would heartily recommend to a friend."
] |
This mouse is good and innovative, but you should expect more for this price. So I'd like to point to problems I have. a) It feels "sticky". Need to apply more force to get it moving. b) Many times I click the right button accidentally. I also have Logitech Mouse Man+, which is of the same shape, but never had this problem with it. c) Forward thumb button is hard to reach. d) Not compatible with KVM (keyboard-video-mouse) switches. Otherwise, it works great. No tracking problems. Excellent software features. Overall I like it more than Mouse Man+. | 2 | positive | [
"This mouse is good and innovative, but you should expect more for this price.",
"So I'd like to point to problems I have.",
"a) It feels \"sticky\".",
"Need to apply more force to get it moving.",
"b) Many times I click the right button accidentally.",
"I also have Logitech Mouse Man+, which is of the same shape, but never had this problem with it.",
"c) Forward thumb button is hard to reach.",
"d) Not compatible with KVM (keyboard-video-mouse) switches.",
"Otherwise, it works great.",
"No tracking problems.",
"Excellent software features.",
"Overall I like it more than Mouse Man+."
] |
I have had these phones before. This is the current model of one I have owned for numerous years. It works sell with the two lines. I have it plugged in to an answering machine which causes no problems. Can adjust ringers independently for each line which is a nice feature. Also speaker phone works well. I have used phone number storage in the past. For it to work correctly it needs 3 AA batteries. One problem is there is no battery life indicator. Sometimes it has run out for weeks and I didn't notice. Then it may lose any settings. But for a two line phone it is a good value. | 2 | positive | [
"I have had these phones before.",
"This is the current model of one I have owned for numerous years.",
"It works sell with the two lines.",
"I have it plugged in to an answering machine which causes no problems.",
"Can adjust ringers independently for each line which is a nice feature.",
"Also speaker phone works well.",
"I have used phone number storage in the past.",
"For it to work correctly it needs 3 AA batteries.",
"One problem is there is no battery life indicator.",
"Sometimes it has run out for weeks and I didn't notice.",
"Then it may lose any settings.",
"But for a two line phone it is a good value."
] |
I purchased the twinkle ball to go with this and my cats love it! I have 3 cats and all 3 play with this on a regular basis. I didn't do anything to encourage them when I purchased it. I put it on the floor and it's been a source of entertainment ever since. Even my boy cat who only plays if you play with him entertains himself with this. I'm convinced the twinkle ball is what makes the difference. <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Bergan-Twinkle-Replacement-Ball-Colors-Vary/dp/B000FSHBYK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Bergan Twinkle Replacement Ball, Colors Vary</a> I don't think they would fool with it as much if I had just used the plain ball that came with it. I recently placed a cat cube on each side of this toy and now the cats run through the cubes and bat at the ball. They have a blast hiding and hitting the ball. <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Kitty-Play-Cube-baby-blue-The-best-cat-toy/dp/B00JEXLLHA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Kitty Play Cube (baby blue)#The best cat toy</a> | 2 | positive | [
"I purchased the twinkle ball to go with this and my cats love it!",
"I have 3 cats and all 3 play with this on a regular basis.",
"I didn't do anything to encourage them when I purchased it.",
"I put it on the floor and it's been a source of entertainment ever since.",
"Even my boy cat who only plays if you play with him entertains himself with this.",
"I'm convinced the twinkle ball is what makes the difference.",
" <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Bergan-Twinkle-Replacement-Ball-Colors-Vary/dp/B000FSHBYK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Bergan Twinkle Replacement Ball, Colors Vary</a> I don't think they would fool with it as much if I had just used the plain ball that came with it.",
"I recently placed a cat cube on each side of this toy and now the cats run through the cubes and bat at the ball.",
"They have a blast hiding and hitting the ball.",
" <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Kitty-Play-Cube-baby-blue-The-best-cat-toy/dp/B00JEXLLHA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Kitty Play Cube (baby blue)#The best cat toy</a>"
] |
James Cagney recalls in his autobiography that this movie was his favorite, largely due to his love of dancing. He was one of the great "tough guys" of all time on film, but dancing was his passion, he noted. It shows here. This was "a labor of love," to use a clich?, and it's obvious how much fun he was having in this film. His hoofing talent also was obvious. He was good, very good.
In fact, for the audience, most of this movie is pure "feel good." Almost all the characters are nice people, the story is inspirational and nicely patriotic and the songs are fantastic. If you pick up this two-disc special-edition DVD that came out several years ago, then you'll see this film in all it's glory. The transfer is magnificent and really brings out the great cinematography. I never realized how beautifully filmed this was until I saw this on DVD.
The story is simply the biography of George M. Cohan, the writer and Broadway star of many, many hit plays and hit songs. Unlike today's biographies, this is a very positive story about a man who brought patriotism alive during World War I with such inspirational songs as "It's A Grand Old Flag" and "Over There." For some of us, listening to these songs can bring a tear or two.
Cagney is his normal riveting self and Joan Leslie certainly makes an appealing female lead as Cohan's wife. The great Walter Huston plays Cohan's father. I've always found Huston to be an actor of great presence. In this movie is a very, very touching deathbed scene with he and Cagney.
So you have a little bit of everything here from drama to romance to comedy to music and Cagney is the glue to fits it all together beautifully. One of the great classic films of all time. | 2 | positive | [
"James Cagney recalls in his autobiography that this movie was his favorite, largely due to his love of dancing.",
"He was one of the great \"tough guys\" of all time on film, but dancing was his passion, he noted.",
"It shows here.",
"This was \"a labor of love,\" to use a clich?",
", and it's obvious how much fun he was having in this film.",
"His hoofing talent also was obvious.",
"He was good, very good.",
"In fact, for the audience, most of this movie is pure \"feel good.",
"\" Almost all the characters are nice people, the story is inspirational and nicely patriotic and the songs are fantastic.",
"If you pick up this two-disc special-edition DVD that came out several years ago, then you'll see this film in all it's glory.",
"The transfer is magnificent and really brings out the great cinematography.",
"I never realized how beautifully filmed this was until I saw this on DVD.",
"The story is simply the biography of George M.",
"Cohan, the writer and Broadway star of many, many hit plays and hit songs.",
"Unlike today's biographies, this is a very positive story about a man who brought patriotism alive during World War I with such inspirational songs as \"It's A Grand Old Flag\" and \"Over There.",
"\" For some of us, listening to these songs can bring a tear or two.",
"Cagney is his normal riveting self and Joan Leslie certainly makes an appealing female lead as Cohan's wife.",
"The great Walter Huston plays Cohan's father.",
"I've always found Huston to be an actor of great presence.",
"In this movie is a very, very touching deathbed scene with he and Cagney.",
"So you have a little bit of everything here from drama to romance to comedy to music and Cagney is the glue to fits it all together beautifully.",
"One of the great classic films of all time."
] |
Hawke is back and be still my heart! I finally made it to my favorite Feral Warrior and his tortured story. I think I didn't eat, sleep or do much of anything while reading this book. Even my kids steered clear of me.
Hawke has been rescued from the spirit trap and he is not the same as when he went in. His animal is fighting with him and causing him to shift. Even though he is trying to fight the rage and the unwanted shifting, when the animal does take over it takes him to the sky for hours. When he is in his hawk form, he isn't even remembering it. If he doesn't get his animal under control soon, he will eventually die.
Faith is a Therian living in Poland. When out one night she is attacked by Daemons. A handsome stranger comes to her rescue and convinces her that they are mates. He sweeps her away to the Feral House to claim his animal that he is marked with. Maxim is not what he seems though. He is cold, cruel, and definitely not the next Foxx. Some animals were never reborn into the next Feral intended until the spirit trap was breached. Now they are finding themselves being introduced to them rather quickly. In this we see the true nature of Maxim and the true evil he is capable of. Seriously, by the end of Chapter 6, this book becomes dark, dirty and flat out suspenseful. Be warned and be ready to have your heart flutter in fear.
As if the author couldn't torture us enough after that, the readers learn a secret about Faith that could change everything. Will she reveal it to Hawke and the other Warriors? If she does, will she do it in time? Can she save Hawke and make him realize what is truly wrong with his animal spirit? Well, my lovely readers -- you will have to read the book.
The ending was bittersweet for me. It is left with a climatic ending that makes me scream in frustration because we have to wait for the next book! Release day will not arrive soon enough for this fan. I wonder if I could bribe author Pamela Palmer for some hints and secrets? | 2 | positive | [
"Hawke is back and be still my heart!",
"I finally made it to my favorite Feral Warrior and his tortured story.",
"I think I didn't eat, sleep or do much of anything while reading this book.",
"Even my kids steered clear of me.",
"Hawke has been rescued from the spirit trap and he is not the same as when he went in.",
"His animal is fighting with him and causing him to shift.",
"Even though he is trying to fight the rage and the unwanted shifting, when the animal does take over it takes him to the sky for hours.",
"When he is in his hawk form, he isn't even remembering it.",
"If he doesn't get his animal under control soon, he will eventually die.",
"Faith is a Therian living in Poland.",
"When out one night she is attacked by Daemons.",
"A handsome stranger comes to her rescue and convinces her that they are mates.",
"He sweeps her away to the Feral House to claim his animal that he is marked with.",
"Maxim is not what he seems though.",
"He is cold, cruel, and definitely not the next Foxx.",
"Some animals were never reborn into the next Feral intended until the spirit trap was breached.",
"Now they are finding themselves being introduced to them rather quickly.",
"In this we see the true nature of Maxim and the true evil he is capable of.",
"Seriously, by the end of Chapter 6, this book becomes dark, dirty and flat out suspenseful.",
"Be warned and be ready to have your heart flutter in fear.",
"As if the author couldn't torture us enough after that, the readers learn a secret about Faith that could change everything.",
"Will she reveal it to Hawke and the other Warriors?",
"If she does, will she do it in time?",
"Can she save Hawke and make him realize what is truly wrong with his animal spirit?",
"Well, my lovely readers -- you will have to read the book.",
"The ending was bittersweet for me.",
"It is left with a climatic ending that makes me scream in frustration because we have to wait for the next book!",
"Release day will not arrive soon enough for this fan.",
"I wonder if I could bribe author Pamela Palmer for some hints and secrets?"
] |
This is my 5th Paullina Simons book and I have yet to be disappointed. I started her books with The Bronze Horseman series and then The Girl in Times Square, when I came accross Tully I ordered the book and it sat on my bookshelf for a bit before I picked it up. I'm glad I waited for a long weekend to start becuase I could not put it down. This has happend with almost all of Simons books.
Tully is a young woman who has a troubled past and comes from the wrong part of town. Her only lifeline has been her unique friendship with Julie and Jennifer her friends from childhood. But even they don't know everything in Tully's past. As they move throught their Senior Year they struggle to keep their friendship afloat. They deal with relationships, depresssion, anorexia, love, abuse and the expectations of others. Their lives are transformed forever by a tragedy and Tully most know face her biggest fear, being abandoned.
The men Tully meets during her journey to womanhood will all give her what she most desires "LOVE". Robin, Jeremy and Jack all want and love Tully and she wants and loves them all but she must choose.
Paullina Simons characters are flawed and that's what makes you care for them. They all have their own challanges and must over come them. This is not a happily ever after story but it definately is for anyone who has ever had to choose! | 2 | positive | [
"This is my 5th Paullina Simons book and I have yet to be disappointed.",
"I started her books with The Bronze Horseman series and then The Girl in Times Square, when I came accross Tully I ordered the book and it sat on my bookshelf for a bit before I picked it up.",
"I'm glad I waited for a long weekend to start becuase I could not put it down.",
"This has happend with almost all of Simons books.",
"Tully is a young woman who has a troubled past and comes from the wrong part of town.",
"Her only lifeline has been her unique friendship with Julie and Jennifer her friends from childhood.",
"But even they don't know everything in Tully's past.",
"As they move throught their Senior Year they struggle to keep their friendship afloat.",
"They deal with relationships, depresssion, anorexia, love, abuse and the expectations of others.",
"Their lives are transformed forever by a tragedy and Tully most know face her biggest fear, being abandoned.",
"The men Tully meets during her journey to womanhood will all give her what she most desires \"LOVE\".",
"Robin, Jeremy and Jack all want and love Tully and she wants and loves them all but she must choose.",
"Paullina Simons characters are flawed and that's what makes you care for them.",
"They all have their own challanges and must over come them.",
"This is not a happily ever after story but it definately is for anyone who has ever had to choose!"
] |
Poco's fifth album, "A Good Feelin' To Know," found the country-rock band leaning more towards rock and roll in an effort to find a radio audience. This is an enjoyable album and brings back wonderful memories from 1972. The musicianship is top notch. Richie Furay (guitar), Paul Cotton (guitar), and Timothy B. Schmit (bass) contribute some catchy tunes backed by Rusty Young (steel guitar) and George Grantham (drums). A former member of Buffalo Springfield, Furay fully expected this album with its single, "A Good Feelin' To Know," a concert favorite, to boost Poco to the headliner status enjoyed by ex-bandmates Stephen Stills and Neil Young. But the album peaked at only #69 while the single didn't even chart taking the wind completely out of Furay's sails. Furay contributed to Poco's sixth album, "Crazy Eyes," but already had his bags packed for The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, a David Geffen-orchestrated CS&N knockoff that debuted nearly-dead on arrival.
Poco was a fantastic LA country-rock band that deserved a much larger audience and "A Good Feelin' To Know" was easily the band's most accessible recording. But it was the debut album of another country-rock band, The Eagles, released just a few months before "A Good Feelin' To Know," which caught the attention of the rock audience. | 2 | positive | [
"Poco's fifth album, \"A Good Feelin' To Know,\" found the country-rock band leaning more towards rock and roll in an effort to find a radio audience.",
"This is an enjoyable album and brings back wonderful memories from 1972.",
"The musicianship is top notch.",
"Richie Furay (guitar), Paul Cotton (guitar), and Timothy B.",
"Schmit (bass) contribute some catchy tunes backed by Rusty Young (steel guitar) and George Grantham (drums).",
"A former member of Buffalo Springfield, Furay fully expected this album with its single, \"A Good Feelin' To Know,\" a concert favorite, to boost Poco to the headliner status enjoyed by ex-bandmates Stephen Stills and Neil Young.",
"But the album peaked at only #69 while the single didn't even chart taking the wind completely out of Furay's sails.",
"Furay contributed to Poco's sixth album, \"Crazy Eyes,\" but already had his bags packed for The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, a David Geffen-orchestrated CS&N knockoff that debuted nearly-dead on arrival.",
"Poco was a fantastic LA country-rock band that deserved a much larger audience and \"A Good Feelin' To Know\" was easily the band's most accessible recording.",
"But it was the debut album of another country-rock band, The Eagles, released just a few months before \"A Good Feelin' To Know,\" which caught the attention of the rock audience."
] |
I'll admit, most of you are probably wondering.."Why waste my time on a game based on a Disney Attraction/Movie? Most licenses like that end up not worth it." Well, I'm here to tell you that this game is an enjoyable romp that you nor your kids will want to miss. You navigate through the Haunted Mansion with game environments inspired by the movie and the ride, fight monsters of all sorts(if Spiders give you the willies, this one has it in spades), solve puzzles to uncover hidden clues- passageways and secrets, as well as release 999 trapped spirits. Kind of a mix between Ghostbusters, House, The Addams Family and Casper. Sure, it's on the fairly easy side for those weened on games of this sort but one not to be missed. Why?, you may ask. Well, it's a fun game that is challenging, at times, and will keep you playing til the end. Besides, it's game that the whole family can enjoy(although one player gets to play at a time).
As far as any gripes are concerned with the game, there are very few but need to be addressed just the same(for those considering a purchase) such as: spotty control(at times, it's hard to control you character. Especially during platform moments), the camera movement(it gets a lil whacky, at times. Course, I know of no game with a perfect camera), and the fact that things can get confusing. Yet, overall, none of these things take away from a great game. The things are, actually, minute.
At any rate, like I said before, this game is an enjoyable romp that you nor your kids will want to miss. One game I highly recommend to all. | 2 | positive | [
"I'll admit, most of you are probably wondering..",
"\"Why waste my time on a game based on a Disney Attraction/Movie?",
"Most licenses like that end up not worth it.",
"\" Well, I'm here to tell you that this game is an enjoyable romp that you nor your kids will want to miss.",
"You navigate through the Haunted Mansion with game environments inspired by the movie and the ride, fight monsters of all sorts(if Spiders give you the willies, this one has it in spades), solve puzzles to uncover hidden clues- passageways and secrets, as well as release 999 trapped spirits.",
"Kind of a mix between Ghostbusters, House, The Addams Family and Casper.",
"Sure, it's on the fairly easy side for those weened on games of this sort but one not to be missed.",
"Why?",
", you may ask.",
"Well, it's a fun game that is challenging, at times, and will keep you playing til the end.",
"Besides, it's game that the whole family can enjoy(although one player gets to play at a time).",
"As far as any gripes are concerned with the game, there are very few but need to be addressed just the same(for those considering a purchase) such as: spotty control(at times, it's hard to control you character.",
"Especially during platform moments), the camera movement(it gets a lil whacky, at times.",
"Course, I know of no game with a perfect camera), and the fact that things can get confusing.",
"Yet, overall, none of these things take away from a great game.",
"The things are, actually, minute.",
"At any rate, like I said before, this game is an enjoyable romp that you nor your kids will want to miss.",
"One game I highly recommend to all."
] |
LAST ACTION HERO [1993/2010] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] Schwarzenegger, Can Be Your Last Action Hero!
Action-adventure superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger bursts through the screen as a larger-than-life movie hero in this nonstop adventure from acclaimed director John McTiernan Predator and Die Hard. Jack Slater is an action-film hero played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. An old projectionist Nick [Robert Prosky] who hands a magic movie ticket to Jack's biggest preteen fan Danny Madigan [Austin O'Brien], and the kid steps right inside the latest Jack Slater film, becoming the actor star's sidekick in gunfights and car chases.
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, F. Murray Abraham, Art Carney, Charles Dance, Frank McRae, Tom Noonan, Robert Prosky, Anthony Quinn, Mercedes Ruehl, Austin O'Brien, Professor Toru Tanaka, Joan Plowright, Keith Barish, Karen Duffy, Larry Ferguson, Melvin Van Peebles, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Noah Emmerich, Michael Chieffo, John Finnegan, Frank McRae, Ryan Todd, Bobbie Brown (cameo), Angie Everhart (cameo), John McTiernan Sr. (cameo), Franco Columbu (cameo), Tina Turner (cameo), Sharon Stone (cameo), Robert Patrick (cameo), Catherine Tramell (cameo), Mike Muscat (cameo), Sylvester Stallone (cameo), Angie Everhart (cameo), Maria Shriver (cameo), Little Richard (cameo), Leeza Gibbons (cameo), James Belushi (cameo), Damon Wayans (cameo), Chevy Chase (cameo), Timothy Dalton (cameo), Jean-Claude Van Damme (cameo), MC Hammer (cameo), Wilson Phillips (cameo), Sir Ian McKellen (cameo) Symba (uncredited) and Danny DeVito (uncredited)
Director: John McTiernan
Producers: John McTiernan and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Screenplay: David Arnott, Shane Black and William Goldman (uncredited)
Composer: Michael Kamen
Cinematography: Dean Semler
Video Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: English: 5. 1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Portuguese: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese
Running Time: 131 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: Fun fact: In the summer of 1993, 'Last Action Hero' opened one week after 'Jurassic Park.' Studio bosses at Columbia Pictures were convinced that Arnold Schwarzenegger would clobber the dinosaurs, and played up this battle of the box office behemoths in their promotion for the film. They were gravely mistaken. Arnold Schwarzenegger got stomped like Bambi under Godzilla's foot. I can recall going to a big multiplex with Steven Spielberg's film on five screens. Even in its second week, lines to see it went through the theatre lobby and out the door. In comparison, 'Last Action Hero' opened there on just a single screen with a half-empty auditorium. After a string of mega-hits including 'Total Recall' and 'Terminator 2,' the actor had his first outright flop. As a potential contender for the big summer blockbuster of the year, 'Last Action Hero' was simply not to be.
In hindsight, there was simply no way that any picture in its position could have ever succeeded. Not even the biggest film star in the world, which Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the time, could face off against the defining cultural moment for a generation of moviegoers and survive unscathed. However, bad timing was certainly not the film's only problem. Even if not for its box office competition, the movie's poor screenplay, inconsistent tone, and the irritating performance from one of its lead stars would have likely done it in anyway.
Somewhere during its development, 'Last Action Hero' started off as a [supposedly] clever idea, even metaphysical, high-concept pitch. The story works as a sort of reverse spin on Woody Allen's 'The Purple Rose of Cairo.' Life in the big city slums of New York hasn't been easy for young Danny Madigan [Austin O'Brien]. In between home invasions and muggings, the boy's only form of entertainment is to watch films at the run-down old theatre where he's befriended the doddering projectionist Nick [Robert Prosky] who owns his personal Cinema. Like most 12 year-olds, he has an enthusiasm for films but hasn't yet developed taste in them. His favourites are the mindless shoot-'em-ups starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, yes, the actor name-checks himself, as loose cannon cop Jack Slater. After one particularly bad day, his projectionist friend offers Danny Madigan a special advance screening of 'Jack Slater IV', all by himself at midnight. The boy jumps at the chance. When he arrives, he's also given a magic ticket said to be passed down from Harry Houdini. Danny Madigan is in hog heaven as he settles down to watch Jack Slater take revenge on the Mafioso, who killed his second-cousin.
Well, it turns out that the magic ticket really is magical. At a key moment, Danny Madigan is sucked into the theatre screen and passes right through into the world of the film itself. Against his disbelief, he's living in his favourite film, paired up as Jack Slater's newest partner. His attempts to explain the predicament to anyone and everyone in earshot are met with indifference. Now, Danny Madigan must find a way to get back to the real world. In the process, he'll have to help Jack Slater foil the Mob's latest scheme to take over Los Angeles.
It's [supposedly] a neat idea, and 'Last Action Hero' has a handful of funny scenes to support it. Early on, bored at school, Danny Madigan fantasises about Arnold Schwarzenegger taking over for Laurence Olivier in 'Hamlet' and blowing the hell out of Denmark. In Jack Slater's crazy celluloid universe, the L.A.P.D. is populated by all sorts of wacko cops in outlandish uniforms. Blink-and-you'll-miss-'em celebrity cameos pop up all over, like Sharon Stone as Catherine Trammel, Robert Patrick as the T-1000, and Danny DeVito as the voice of an animated cat detective, to name but a few. The film takes pot-shots at action film clichs like the crusty police captain, the hero's bad puns, the overly-talky killer, the cop killed with only two days to retirement, a chase through the oft-used L.A. River, and many ridiculous stunts and explosions. Arnold Schwarzenegger is plenty game to send-up his own persona and career. And the meta-filmic twists go into overdrive when the main villain Benedict [Charles Dance] who is delightfully creepy, escapes into the real world with a plot to disrupt the 'Jack Slater IV' premiere and kill the true Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Towards the end of the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger appears as himself, attending the New York opening of his latest Jack Slater film, accompanied by his wife, Maria Shriver, and blithely unaware that Jack Slater is fighting for his life in another part of the theatre. Instead, Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen hustling the Jack Slater merchandise that, like the "Last Action Hero" T-shirts, caps and poster are being sold to promote the film.
Unfortunately, these things take up maybe 15 to 20 minutes of screen time in a 131-minute film. Whatever good ideas the original script may have held were eventually watered down through countless rewrites, studio interference, test screening feedback, and last-minute reshoots. Danny Madigan is an incredibly whiny and annoying lead character that engenders no audience sympathy at all. I can't blame poor Austin O'Brien too much; I'm sure the kid did exactly what everyone asked of him. The hiring of John McTiernan as the director, especially where he made his mark with 'Predator' and 'Die Hard,' also turned out to be a much bigger mistake than anyone realised. The director may be deft with the action stuff, but has no sense of comedy whatsoever. Far too many of the gags in the film are thudding unfunny. For long stretches of the film, everyone seems to forget that they're making a spoof of dumb action films, and instead just proceeds to make a dumb action film.
'Last Action Hero' is slightly overlong, and not nearly as funny, smart, or entertaining as it thinks it is. Sadly, everyone realised it. At $85 million, the film was quite expensive for its day and it cost more than 'Jurassic Park' did, and yet grossed a paltry $50 million domestically. It did better overseas, and I'm sure turned a profit eventually. But the vanity project is still remembered as a black mark in its star's career. On the other hand, 'Last Action Hero' is not quite the worthless disaster that it was made out to be at the time either. If you can go into it with low expectations, the picture is just moderately clever enough to be watchable. Just barely, though and set those expectations really low.
With his lantern jaw and square-cut, comic-book looks, Arnold Schwarzenegger handles his various roles with good humour: it is fun being the boss. Young Austin O'Brien is also a very slick performer. Note should be made of the contributions of Dean Semler, the director of photography; Eugenio Zanetti, the production designer, and Richard Greenberg, the visual effects consultant.
Blu-ray Video Quality Considering its history on the very inferior DVD, 'Last Action Hero' looks surprisingly respectable on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer is presented in the films correct 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The image is at least reasonably sharp enough that the small engraving on Arnold's belt buckle is legible. Black levels are solid and the contrast range appears to be properly rendered without artificial boosting. Colours are well saturated and sometimes striking. In another pleasant surprise, I didn't spot any edge enhancement artefacts. My initial expectation was that Sony would merely recycle their DVD master from 2001, and the studio's DVDs of the era were almost all plagued with edge ringing problems. Countering that, however, is some moderate but noticeable Digital Noise Reduction filtering that does give the transfer a dated appearance. This causes occasional smearing during motion, and frozen grain patterns. Grain representation in general is a problem with the disc. The movie's photography is fairly grainy in spots, especially during special effects shots. The high-definition transfer doesn't handle the grain very well. It looks very noisy and even blocky at times, which suggests either poor digitalisation during the telecine transfer or poor compression during the disc encoding.
Blu-ray Audio Quality In similar respects, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is decent all around, but not quite exceptional. 'Last Action Hero' had the distinction of being the first movie released theatrically in the SDDS 7.1 audio format, Sony's competition for Dolby Digital and DTS. The latter debuted a week earlier with 'Jurassic Park' and stole most of Sony's thunder. Many of the theatres equipped with SDDS experienced technical problems; for several years, and the format was referred to as a complete failure. In order to show off their 7.1 channels, the film's mixers loaded up the soundtrack with lots of zinging directional and surround activity. Bullets whiz all through the soundstage repeatedly. Even as mixed down to 5.1 channels here, the track is still very aggressive. It also matrixes well into 7.1 configuration with Dolby ProLogic IIx processing. Overall fidelity is pretty good. The rockin' score and songs on the soundtrack are satisfyingly broad across the front channels. Sound effects such as knives are quite sharp and piercing. Gun fire has a nice kick. Dynamic range is a little on the shallow side. The movie has plenty of explosions, but few of them dig particularly deep. In baseball terms, this would be a solid double.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Just like earlier DVD editions of this film, the Blu-ray has no bonus features. Unless you count a bunch of trailers that are not very relevant, which is to my mind, a complete waste of a Blu-ray disc.
Finally, film for film and despite a couple of misfires in an otherwise exemplary rsum, there was at one point nobody better in the Action movie business than John McTiernan, and after a string of cranking out three of the most successful Action films of all time, the Director proved himself abundantly capable of delivering what was and still arguably is the quintessential Action spoof film in Last Action Hero. Starring history's biggest Action hero and delivering a fun and magical plot that perfectly intermixes general parody of the Action movie business, Last Action Hero makes for an infinitely re-watchable picture for Action and Arnold Schwarzenegger fans alike. Sony's Blu-ray release, however, is rather tepid, featuring a fairly decent 1080p picture quality, a booming lossless soundtrack, and next to no extras. Recommended for diehard fans of the film, but for more casual viewers should wait for, hopefully a special edition at some point in the future will be released, I hope so. Despite it being slightly a disappointing film, that should have been better, I am still glad I have got this in my Blu-ray Collection, as I am really keen to build up an extensive Arnold Schwarzenegger Blu-ray Collection.
Andrew C. Miller Your Ultimate No. 1 Film Fan.
Le Cinema Paradiso
WARE, United Kingdom | 2 | positive | [
"LAST ACTION HERO [1993/2010] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] Schwarzenegger, Can Be Your Last Action Hero!",
"Action-adventure superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger bursts through the screen as a larger-than-life movie hero in this nonstop adventure from acclaimed director John McTiernan Predator and Die Hard.",
"Jack Slater is an action-film hero played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.",
"An old projectionist Nick [Robert Prosky] who hands a magic movie ticket to Jack's biggest preteen fan Danny Madigan [Austin O'Brien], and the kid steps right inside the latest Jack Slater film, becoming the actor star's sidekick in gunfights and car chases.",
"Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, F.",
"Murray Abraham, Art Carney, Charles Dance, Frank McRae, Tom Noonan, Robert Prosky, Anthony Quinn, Mercedes Ruehl, Austin O'Brien, Professor Toru Tanaka, Joan Plowright, Keith Barish, Karen Duffy, Larry Ferguson, Melvin Van Peebles, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Noah Emmerich, Michael Chieffo, John Finnegan, Frank McRae, Ryan Todd, Bobbie Brown (cameo), Angie Everhart (cameo), John McTiernan Sr.",
"(cameo), Franco Columbu (cameo), Tina Turner (cameo), Sharon Stone (cameo), Robert Patrick (cameo), Catherine Tramell (cameo), Mike Muscat (cameo), Sylvester Stallone (cameo), Angie Everhart (cameo), Maria Shriver (cameo), Little Richard (cameo), Leeza Gibbons (cameo), James Belushi (cameo), Damon Wayans (cameo), Chevy Chase (cameo), Timothy Dalton (cameo), Jean-Claude Van Damme (cameo), MC Hammer (cameo), Wilson Phillips (cameo), Sir Ian McKellen (cameo) Symba (uncredited) and Danny DeVito (uncredited)\n\nDirector: John McTiernan\n\nProducers: John McTiernan and Arnold Schwarzenegger\n\nScreenplay: David Arnott, Shane Black and William Goldman (uncredited)\n\nComposer: Michael Kamen\n\nCinematography: Dean Semler\n\nVideo Resolution: 1080p\n\nAspect Ratio: 2.",
"40:1\n\nAudio: English: 5.",
"1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French: 5.",
"1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Portuguese: 5.",
"1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Spanish: 5.",
"1 Dolby Digital\n\nSubtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese\n\nRunning Time: 131 minutes\n\nRegion: All Regions\n\nNumber of discs: 1\n\nStudio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment\n\nAndrew's Blu-ray Review: Fun fact: In the summer of 1993, 'Last Action Hero' opened one week after 'Jurassic Park.",
"' Studio bosses at Columbia Pictures were convinced that Arnold Schwarzenegger would clobber the dinosaurs, and played up this battle of the box office behemoths in their promotion for the film.",
"They were gravely mistaken.",
"Arnold Schwarzenegger got stomped like Bambi under Godzilla's foot.",
"I can recall going to a big multiplex with Steven Spielberg's film on five screens.",
"Even in its second week, lines to see it went through the theatre lobby and out the door.",
"In comparison, 'Last Action Hero' opened there on just a single screen with a half-empty auditorium.",
"After a string of mega-hits including 'Total Recall' and 'Terminator 2,' the actor had his first outright flop.",
"As a potential contender for the big summer blockbuster of the year, 'Last Action Hero' was simply not to be.",
"In hindsight, there was simply no way that any picture in its position could have ever succeeded.",
"Not even the biggest film star in the world, which Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the time, could face off against the defining cultural moment for a generation of moviegoers and survive unscathed.",
"However, bad timing was certainly not the film's only problem.",
"Even if not for its box office competition, the movie's poor screenplay, inconsistent tone, and the irritating performance from one of its lead stars would have likely done it in anyway.",
"Somewhere during its development, 'Last Action Hero' started off as a [supposedly] clever idea, even metaphysical, high-concept pitch.",
"The story works as a sort of reverse spin on Woody Allen's 'The Purple Rose of Cairo.",
"' Life in the big city slums of New York hasn't been easy for young Danny Madigan [Austin O'Brien].",
"In between home invasions and muggings, the boy's only form of entertainment is to watch films at the run-down old theatre where he's befriended the doddering projectionist Nick [Robert Prosky] who owns his personal Cinema.",
"Like most 12 year-olds, he has an enthusiasm for films but hasn't yet developed taste in them.",
"His favourites are the mindless shoot-'em-ups starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, yes, the actor name-checks himself, as loose cannon cop Jack Slater.",
"After one particularly bad day, his projectionist friend offers Danny Madigan a special advance screening of 'Jack Slater IV', all by himself at midnight.",
"The boy jumps at the chance.",
"When he arrives, he's also given a magic ticket said to be passed down from Harry Houdini.",
"Danny Madigan is in hog heaven as he settles down to watch Jack Slater take revenge on the Mafioso, who killed his second-cousin.",
"Well, it turns out that the magic ticket really is magical.",
"At a key moment, Danny Madigan is sucked into the theatre screen and passes right through into the world of the film itself.",
"Against his disbelief, he's living in his favourite film, paired up as Jack Slater's newest partner.",
"His attempts to explain the predicament to anyone and everyone in earshot are met with indifference.",
"Now, Danny Madigan must find a way to get back to the real world.",
"In the process, he'll have to help Jack Slater foil the Mob's latest scheme to take over Los Angeles.",
"It's [supposedly] a neat idea, and 'Last Action Hero' has a handful of funny scenes to support it.",
"Early on, bored at school, Danny Madigan fantasises about Arnold Schwarzenegger taking over for Laurence Olivier in 'Hamlet' and blowing the hell out of Denmark.",
"In Jack Slater's crazy celluloid universe, the L.",
"A.P.D. is populated by all sorts of wacko cops in outlandish uniforms.",
"Blink-and-you'll-miss-'em celebrity cameos pop up all over, like Sharon Stone as Catherine Trammel, Robert Patrick as the T-1000, and Danny DeVito as the voice of an animated cat detective, to name but a few.",
"The film takes pot-shots at action film clichs like the crusty police captain, the hero's bad puns, the overly-talky killer, the cop killed with only two days to retirement, a chase through the oft-used L.",
"A. River, and many ridiculous stunts and explosions.",
"Arnold Schwarzenegger is plenty game to send-up his own persona and career.",
"And the meta-filmic twists go into overdrive when the main villain Benedict [Charles Dance] who is delightfully creepy, escapes into the real world with a plot to disrupt the 'Jack Slater IV' premiere and kill the true Arnold Schwarzenegger.",
"Towards the end of the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger appears as himself, attending the New York opening of his latest Jack Slater film, accompanied by his wife, Maria Shriver, and blithely unaware that Jack Slater is fighting for his life in another part of the theatre.",
"Instead, Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen hustling the Jack Slater merchandise that, like the \"Last Action Hero\" T-shirts, caps and poster are being sold to promote the film.",
"Unfortunately, these things take up maybe 15 to 20 minutes of screen time in a 131-minute film.",
"Whatever good ideas the original script may have held were eventually watered down through countless rewrites, studio interference, test screening feedback, and last-minute reshoots.",
"Danny Madigan is an incredibly whiny and annoying lead character that engenders no audience sympathy at all.",
"I can't blame poor Austin O'Brien too much; I'm sure the kid did exactly what everyone asked of him.",
"The hiring of John McTiernan as the director, especially where he made his mark with 'Predator' and 'Die Hard,' also turned out to be a much bigger mistake than anyone realised.",
"The director may be deft with the action stuff, but has no sense of comedy whatsoever.",
"Far too many of the gags in the film are thudding unfunny.",
"For long stretches of the film, everyone seems to forget that they're making a spoof of dumb action films, and instead just proceeds to make a dumb action film.",
"'Last Action Hero' is slightly overlong, and not nearly as funny, smart, or entertaining as it thinks it is.",
"Sadly, everyone realised it.",
"At $85 million, the film was quite expensive for its day and it cost more than 'Jurassic Park' did, and yet grossed a paltry $50 million domestically.",
"It did better overseas, and I'm sure turned a profit eventually.",
"But the vanity project is still remembered as a black mark in its star's career.",
"On the other hand, 'Last Action Hero' is not quite the worthless disaster that it was made out to be at the time either.",
"If you can go into it with low expectations, the picture is just moderately clever enough to be watchable.",
"Just barely, though and set those expectations really low.",
"With his lantern jaw and square-cut, comic-book looks, Arnold Schwarzenegger handles his various roles with good humour: it is fun being the boss.",
"Young Austin O'Brien is also a very slick performer.",
"Note should be made of the contributions of Dean Semler, the director of photography; Eugenio Zanetti, the production designer, and Richard Greenberg, the visual effects consultant.",
"Blu-ray Video Quality Considering its history on the very inferior DVD, 'Last Action Hero' looks surprisingly respectable on Blu-ray.",
"The 1080p transfer is presented in the films correct 2.",
"40:1 theatrical aspect ratio.",
"The image is at least reasonably sharp enough that the small engraving on Arnold's belt buckle is legible.",
"Black levels are solid and the contrast range appears to be properly rendered without artificial boosting.",
"Colours are well saturated and sometimes striking.",
"In another pleasant surprise, I didn't spot any edge enhancement artefacts.",
"My initial expectation was that Sony would merely recycle their DVD master from 2001, and the studio's DVDs of the era were almost all plagued with edge ringing problems.",
"Countering that, however, is some moderate but noticeable Digital Noise Reduction filtering that does give the transfer a dated appearance.",
"This causes occasional smearing during motion, and frozen grain patterns.",
"Grain representation in general is a problem with the disc.",
"The movie's photography is fairly grainy in spots, especially during special effects shots.",
"The high-definition transfer doesn't handle the grain very well.",
"It looks very noisy and even blocky at times, which suggests either poor digitalisation during the telecine transfer or poor compression during the disc encoding.",
"Blu-ray Audio Quality In similar respects, the 5.",
"1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is decent all around, but not quite exceptional.",
"'Last Action Hero' had the distinction of being the first movie released theatrically in the SDDS 7.",
"1 audio format, Sony's competition for Dolby Digital and DTS.",
"The latter debuted a week earlier with 'Jurassic Park' and stole most of Sony's thunder.",
"Many of the theatres equipped with SDDS experienced technical problems; for several years, and the format was referred to as a complete failure.",
"In order to show off their 7.",
"1 channels, the film's mixers loaded up the soundtrack with lots of zinging directional and surround activity.",
"Bullets whiz all through the soundstage repeatedly.",
"Even as mixed down to 5.",
"1 channels here, the track is still very aggressive.",
"It also matrixes well into 7.",
"1 configuration with Dolby ProLogic IIx processing.",
"Overall fidelity is pretty good.",
"The rockin' score and songs on the soundtrack are satisfyingly broad across the front channels.",
"Sound effects such as knives are quite sharp and piercing.",
"Gun fire has a nice kick.",
"Dynamic range is a little on the shallow side.",
"The movie has plenty of explosions, but few of them dig particularly deep.",
"In baseball terms, this would be a solid double.",
"Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Just like earlier DVD editions of this film, the Blu-ray has no bonus features.",
"Unless you count a bunch of trailers that are not very relevant, which is to my mind, a complete waste of a Blu-ray disc.",
"Finally, film for film and despite a couple of misfires in an otherwise exemplary rsum, there was at one point nobody better in the Action movie business than John McTiernan, and after a string of cranking out three of the most successful Action films of all time, the Director proved himself abundantly capable of delivering what was and still arguably is the quintessential Action spoof film in Last Action Hero.",
"Starring history's biggest Action hero and delivering a fun and magical plot that perfectly intermixes general parody of the Action movie business, Last Action Hero makes for an infinitely re-watchable picture for Action and Arnold Schwarzenegger fans alike.",
"Sony's Blu-ray release, however, is rather tepid, featuring a fairly decent 1080p picture quality, a booming lossless soundtrack, and next to no extras.",
"Recommended for diehard fans of the film, but for more casual viewers should wait for, hopefully a special edition at some point in the future will be released, I hope so.",
"Despite it being slightly a disappointing film, that should have been better, I am still glad I have got this in my Blu-ray Collection, as I am really keen to build up an extensive Arnold Schwarzenegger Blu-ray Collection.",
"Andrew C.",
"Miller Your Ultimate No.",
"1 Film Fan.",
"Le Cinema Paradiso\nWARE, United Kingdom"
] |
I ordered this chuck for a used drill press I bought from a private party. The 5/8" keyed chuck that was on it wouldn't hold the bit tight and would let it slip no matter how tight I had it. Upon reviews from others, on this site, who had commented about how good it is I ordered it. It came pretty fast and in great shape. I put it on the JT3 taper shaft and put a 3/8" bit into it and gave it a whirl. I drilled 4 holes through some 3/8" stock that I had laying around and it drilled through it without any hint of slipping. I next tried a 1/2" bit, which is the biggest I have, and did another 4 holes with the 1/2" bit and again no slipping. I'm no machinist by any stretch but in my opinion this is a great chuck. I was skeptical about a keyless chuck because I haven't had too much luck with them in the past, but if this chuck keeps on working like it has so far I might change my mind. If you are looking for a great chuck that's easy to install and use this would be the one. | 2 | positive | [
"I ordered this chuck for a used drill press I bought from a private party.",
"The 5/8\" keyed chuck that was on it wouldn't hold the bit tight and would let it slip no matter how tight I had it.",
"Upon reviews from others, on this site, who had commented about how good it is I ordered it.",
"It came pretty fast and in great shape.",
"I put it on the JT3 taper shaft and put a 3/8\" bit into it and gave it a whirl.",
"I drilled 4 holes through some 3/8\" stock that I had laying around and it drilled through it without any hint of slipping.",
"I next tried a 1/2\" bit, which is the biggest I have, and did another 4 holes with the 1/2\" bit and again no slipping.",
"I'm no machinist by any stretch but in my opinion this is a great chuck.",
"I was skeptical about a keyless chuck because I haven't had too much luck with them in the past, but if this chuck keeps on working like it has so far I might change my mind.",
"If you are looking for a great chuck that's easy to install and use this would be the one."
] |
First, the good. "Myst Revelation" has absolutely stunning graphics, by far the best in the Myst series. "Immersive" does not do justice to the depth and quality of the worlds presented in this game. Plenty of small touches, such as birds and wind stirring plants and leaves, add to the overall effect of the game. Even on my relatively slow graphics card (an nVidia GeFroce 4000 with 64MB DDR), the graphics were wonderful. With the exception of one country music style song that is entirely out of pace with the rest of the game, the music is beautiful and in keeping with the fine tradition of eerie Myst tunes that fans have come to know and love. In addition to graphics and sound, the storyline is also fairly interesting and involving. Fans of the first Myst will enjoy the reappearance of Sirrus and Achenar. Just as in the original "Myst," you are faced with the choice of which brother to trust in the end. And although some others have found the finish unsatisfactory, I disagree. The ending ties up all the loose ends and transitions nicely to the next and final installment in the series.
Now, the bad. First, the live action performances were not up to the standards of previous installments in the Myst series. Even Atrus seemed a little edgy in all of his scenes. The actors who portrayed the brothers were likewise on edge most of the time. They overplayed their characters to a dramatic fault. There was no subtly here by any stretch of the imagination. Still, the live action manages to mesh fairly well with the actual game play. Another beef I had is the country music selection we are "treated" to near the end of the game. What in the world were the programmers thinking, anyway? Up until then we had enjoy a nice selection of classical music that fit in with the Myst aura perfectly, and then all of sudden...bam, we get Garth Brooks. The song was total of place. Equally painful was the whole Serenia culture deal, which was more like a trip to the local New Age health food store than a Myst world. Granted, the world of Serenia was beautifully rendered, but the incessant appearance of the "Proctors" got a tad on the annoying side, especially since none of the actors who portrayed them could act their way out of a wet paper bag.
The above complaints aside, the game is definitely worth checking out if you're a Myst fan. Although the downsides detract from the game, my hat is still off to the programmers for rendering such delightfully rich atmospheres. The worlds, especially those of Tomana and Serenia, are like nothing I have ever seen before. Lots of imagination went into this production.
One more point: Make sure you have plenty of hard drive space and a quality graphics card before purchasing. The full install requires nearly eight GB, and only faster video cards will be able to render the environments without lagging. | 2 | positive | [
"First, the good.",
"\"Myst Revelation\" has absolutely stunning graphics, by far the best in the Myst series.",
"\"Immersive\" does not do justice to the depth and quality of the worlds presented in this game.",
"Plenty of small touches, such as birds and wind stirring plants and leaves, add to the overall effect of the game.",
"Even on my relatively slow graphics card (an nVidia GeFroce 4000 with 64MB DDR), the graphics were wonderful.",
"With the exception of one country music style song that is entirely out of pace with the rest of the game, the music is beautiful and in keeping with the fine tradition of eerie Myst tunes that fans have come to know and love.",
"In addition to graphics and sound, the storyline is also fairly interesting and involving.",
"Fans of the first Myst will enjoy the reappearance of Sirrus and Achenar.",
"Just as in the original \"Myst,\" you are faced with the choice of which brother to trust in the end.",
"And although some others have found the finish unsatisfactory, I disagree.",
"The ending ties up all the loose ends and transitions nicely to the next and final installment in the series.",
"Now, the bad.",
"First, the live action performances were not up to the standards of previous installments in the Myst series.",
"Even Atrus seemed a little edgy in all of his scenes.",
"The actors who portrayed the brothers were likewise on edge most of the time.",
"They overplayed their characters to a dramatic fault.",
"There was no subtly here by any stretch of the imagination.",
"Still, the live action manages to mesh fairly well with the actual game play.",
"Another beef I had is the country music selection we are \"treated\" to near the end of the game.",
"What in the world were the programmers thinking, anyway?",
"Up until then we had enjoy a nice selection of classical music that fit in with the Myst aura perfectly, and then all of sudden...",
"bam, we get Garth Brooks.",
"The song was total of place.",
"Equally painful was the whole Serenia culture deal, which was more like a trip to the local New Age health food store than a Myst world.",
"Granted, the world of Serenia was beautifully rendered, but the incessant appearance of the \"Proctors\" got a tad on the annoying side, especially since none of the actors who portrayed them could act their way out of a wet paper bag.",
"The above complaints aside, the game is definitely worth checking out if you're a Myst fan.",
"Although the downsides detract from the game, my hat is still off to the programmers for rendering such delightfully rich atmospheres.",
"The worlds, especially those of Tomana and Serenia, are like nothing I have ever seen before.",
"Lots of imagination went into this production.",
"One more point: Make sure you have plenty of hard drive space and a quality graphics card before purchasing.",
"The full install requires nearly eight GB, and only faster video cards will be able to render the environments without lagging."
] |
UPDATE: we just bought a 2nd one of these. This unit is a handy size! We will fold the bench cushion from our new bench and keep it is this storage seat next to the bench. Keeps the cushion nice when niot in use, and doubles as a side table, or extra seat. This 2nd unit went together just as perfectly as the first one! Seat hinge seems sturdy, and the whole unit is sturdy.
....................
This storage box/seat is of good quality. My husband had it assembled in about 2 minutes, and the box holds our outdoor bistro chair cushions perfectly! (With room to spare!) Both my hubby and I tried out the seat for sitting, and it was sturdy for our heavier bodies. This is a nice addition to our deck! Looks very nice, too! | 2 | positive | [
"UPDATE: we just bought a 2nd one of these.",
"This unit is a handy size!",
"We will fold the bench cushion from our new bench and keep it is this storage seat next to the bench.",
"Keeps the cushion nice when niot in use, and doubles as a side table, or extra seat.",
"This 2nd unit went together just as perfectly as the first one!",
"Seat hinge seems sturdy, and the whole unit is sturdy.",
"....",
"....",
"....",
"....",
"....",
"This storage box/seat is of good quality.",
"My husband had it assembled in about 2 minutes, and the box holds our outdoor bistro chair cushions perfectly!",
"(With room to spare!",
") Both my hubby and I tried out the seat for sitting, and it was sturdy for our heavier bodies.",
"This is a nice addition to our deck!",
"Looks very nice, too!"
] |
Sony MDR-V6 headphones are by far the best headphones out there for the money. I listened to Audio Technica and Dr. Dre's Beats headphones and In my opinion the Sony cans sound the best. The Dynamic range is Great. Good Bass, Clarity at the same time. I use mine with "cMoy Headphone Amplifier" and it shines truly with it. I am using it from last 12 yrs and I enjoyed it all these years. I am happy to see Sony still makes them. I will definitely order one more headphones for my family members.
Pros:
Excellent sound stage, Great Highs and Lows. Amazing.
Very Comfortable Headphones
Excellent Build quality, Very sturdy using excellent materials
Headphone coil is protected by Metal shield
Spring type wire - very useful
Frequency range of headphones is comparable or better than much high end expensive headphones
No Distortions, No Loose connection problems, No Rust after using for 12 yrs (Replaced ear pads 3 times
in 12 yrs)
Love the Matte Black finish on the headphones
Cons:
None Noticed | 2 | positive | [
"Sony MDR-V6 headphones are by far the best headphones out there for the money.",
"I listened to Audio Technica and Dr.",
"Dre's Beats headphones and In my opinion the Sony cans sound the best.",
"The Dynamic range is Great.",
"Good Bass, Clarity at the same time.",
"I use mine with \"cMoy Headphone Amplifier\" and it shines truly with it.",
"I am using it from last 12 yrs and I enjoyed it all these years.",
"I am happy to see Sony still makes them.",
"I will definitely order one more headphones for my family members.",
"Pros:\nExcellent sound stage, Great Highs and Lows.",
"Amazing.",
"Very Comfortable Headphones\nExcellent Build quality, Very sturdy using excellent materials\nHeadphone coil is protected by Metal shield\nSpring type wire - very useful\nFrequency range of headphones is comparable or better than much high end expensive headphones\nNo Distortions, No Loose connection problems, No Rust after using for 12 yrs (Replaced ear pads 3 times\nin 12 yrs)\nLove the Matte Black finish on the headphones\n\nCons:\nNone Noticed"
] |
OXO products are usually very good. They are designed with consumer comfort and ergonomics in mind. They are usually very well made and solid items as well.
These tongs are no exception. The are large enough to give you good reach and distance from oil splatter. They are absolutely invaluable in cooking, as an extension of your hand to move food items around in pots and pans without burning yourself. It's so easy to use these to grab steak and flip em, MUCH easier than trying to flip with a fork, spatula, or other devices. That's because this tool can actually grab and pick up food. The rubber on the handles makes it very comfortable and helps with heat - I still wouldn't leave it in pot of hot water though, the stainless steel goes throughout, so it will still get hot, the rubber just helps. The locking mechanism is strong and stable. The entire thing is easy to wash and clean. I haven't had any problems with these at all and would recommend them to anyone.
If there was any improvements to be made, it would be to maybe have non-stick tips that were a little gentler on breaded foods. Some kind of rubber/silicone/non-stick tip would be my next set of tongs. I would like to have both versions. The stainless steel tips have good grip, so I wouldn't want to sacrifice that. So I think having one of each would be perfect. | 2 | positive | [
"OXO products are usually very good.",
"They are designed with consumer comfort and ergonomics in mind.",
"They are usually very well made and solid items as well.",
"These tongs are no exception.",
"The are large enough to give you good reach and distance from oil splatter.",
"They are absolutely invaluable in cooking, as an extension of your hand to move food items around in pots and pans without burning yourself.",
"It's so easy to use these to grab steak and flip em, MUCH easier than trying to flip with a fork, spatula, or other devices.",
"That's because this tool can actually grab and pick up food.",
"The rubber on the handles makes it very comfortable and helps with heat - I still wouldn't leave it in pot of hot water though, the stainless steel goes throughout, so it will still get hot, the rubber just helps.",
"The locking mechanism is strong and stable.",
"The entire thing is easy to wash and clean.",
"I haven't had any problems with these at all and would recommend them to anyone.",
"If there was any improvements to be made, it would be to maybe have non-stick tips that were a little gentler on breaded foods.",
"Some kind of rubber/silicone/non-stick tip would be my next set of tongs.",
"I would like to have both versions.",
"The stainless steel tips have good grip, so I wouldn't want to sacrifice that.",
"So I think having one of each would be perfect."
] |
This is one of the great rock albums of the 70's, or any other decade. With the onset of the awful disco movement coming on, what a breath of fresh air this guy was. We had all the punk rockers out there who couldn't sing or play. But when this little English pub rocker came along with this album, it blew all those pretenders out of the water. He had a snarly voice that sounded like he just swallowed a mouthful of gravel, but he had SOUL! And that's all that really counts. With a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, he comes swinging out of the gate with that nasty little drug song called "White Honey". Whatta great rock song! When he sings "we're gonna hit white honey when the chips are down, we're gonna taste white honey when there's no one around", it sounds like he's been down that road before. Parker sings with more emotion than just about any singer can hope to achieve. He can be serious one minute, as in "Howlin Wind" or "Don't Ask Me Questions", or he can have some fun on songs like "Silly Thing" or Lady Doctor". Not many bands would be able to pull off the songs he wrote for this album, but Parker hired The Rumour, who were some of the best musicians England had to offer. I've always thought these guys were England's answer to Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. They were THAT good. I can't say enough good things about this album. It's fantastic! Also, I highly recommend his second album "Heat Treatment". It comes a very very close second to this one. Good luck finding it. | 2 | positive | [
"This is one of the great rock albums of the 70's, or any other decade.",
"With the onset of the awful disco movement coming on, what a breath of fresh air this guy was.",
"We had all the punk rockers out there who couldn't sing or play.",
"But when this little English pub rocker came along with this album, it blew all those pretenders out of the water.",
"He had a snarly voice that sounded like he just swallowed a mouthful of gravel, but he had SOUL!",
"And that's all that really counts.",
"With a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, he comes swinging out of the gate with that nasty little drug song called \"White Honey\".",
"Whatta great rock song!",
"When he sings \"we're gonna hit white honey when the chips are down, we're gonna taste white honey when there's no one around\", it sounds like he's been down that road before.",
"Parker sings with more emotion than just about any singer can hope to achieve.",
"He can be serious one minute, as in \"Howlin Wind\" or \"Don't Ask Me Questions\", or he can have some fun on songs like \"Silly Thing\" or Lady Doctor\".",
"Not many bands would be able to pull off the songs he wrote for this album, but Parker hired The Rumour, who were some of the best musicians England had to offer.",
"I've always thought these guys were England's answer to Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.",
"They were THAT good.",
"I can't say enough good things about this album.",
"It's fantastic!",
"Also, I highly recommend his second album \"Heat Treatment\".",
"It comes a very very close second to this one.",
"Good luck finding it."
] |
i have had these covers for about 6-7 months now. I love these covers! have a 2004 jeep wrangler. in hot weather they get a little warm to sit on. but not bad. I would definitely buy these again for another Jeep!
pros: looks AMAZING! adds a lot to the Jeep.
pretty water resistant, haven't tried anything super extreme test yet
they fit snuuuug! Best top did a good job making them fit to exact
cons: -the buttons where the seat tilt lever is don't exactly stay buttoned, as soon as you tilt the seat forward they unbutton, no big deal
-after long term use, the recessed lines in the seat collect dirt and debris and if your ocd like me, its takes a little time to clean them | 2 | positive | [
"i have had these covers for about 6-7 months now.",
"I love these covers!",
"have a 2004 jeep wrangler.",
"in hot weather they get a little warm to sit on.",
"but not bad.",
"I would definitely buy these again for another Jeep!",
"pros: looks AMAZING!",
"adds a lot to the Jeep.",
"pretty water resistant, haven't tried anything super extreme test yet\n they fit snuuuug!",
"Best top did a good job making them fit to exact\n\ncons: -the buttons where the seat tilt lever is don't exactly stay buttoned, as soon as you tilt the seat forward they unbutton, no big deal\n -after long term use, the recessed lines in the seat collect dirt and debris and if your ocd like me, its takes a little time to clean them"
] |
A friend loaned me this book. I read it and loved it so much that I went out and bought my own copy (and I rarely buy hardcover books!). This is a wonderful introduction to English Christian writers (mostly converts) of the twentieth century. It is an introduction only, for further details about each one you'll have to find individual biographies. The book discusses the impact of the time period on various people in a way that really illuminated some events in history for me. The biggest frustration that I had after reading this book is that so many of the authors mentioned are largely out of print and our local libraries don't have their books either. I'm still trying to track down Robert Hugh Benson's Lord of the World. But I have managed to read some Knox, and a lot more Chesterton after reading this book.
If you want to know why some Christians supported Franco, why the post World War I generation was so disillusioned, and why a lot of very bright young men and women became Christian in an age when many were turning their back on the Church this is a book that touches on all of these issues.
Just be prepared for frustration when you can't easily find books by the authors that Pearce is writing about. | 2 | positive | [
"A friend loaned me this book.",
"I read it and loved it so much that I went out and bought my own copy (and I rarely buy hardcover books!",
").",
"This is a wonderful introduction to English Christian writers (mostly converts) of the twentieth century.",
"It is an introduction only, for further details about each one you'll have to find individual biographies.",
"The book discusses the impact of the time period on various people in a way that really illuminated some events in history for me.",
"The biggest frustration that I had after reading this book is that so many of the authors mentioned are largely out of print and our local libraries don't have their books either.",
"I'm still trying to track down Robert Hugh Benson's Lord of the World.",
"But I have managed to read some Knox, and a lot more Chesterton after reading this book.",
"If you want to know why some Christians supported Franco, why the post World War I generation was so disillusioned, and why a lot of very bright young men and women became Christian in an age when many were turning their back on the Church this is a book that touches on all of these issues.",
"Just be prepared for frustration when you can't easily find books by the authors that Pearce is writing about."
] |
I bought this album to satisfy something within me that needed to be satisfied, that welling pit in the middle of your heart that you seem to ignore as often as possible. The hole that I was dealing with however was left by a horrid boy that caused the tissues to swell in pain, and the only thing that I could think of to cure such a broken heart was Leonard Cohen.
Not only did Leonard Cohen finally put me to sleep after a bout of sleepless nights; he also gave me something to rejoice in ... and that is life and love and such trials that life makes us endure. I have too much respect for Leonard Cohen to write a decent review, but I will try.
Each song truly does describe an asspect of this man's enormous talent, hinting at why these tracks would be considered the best of. I am certain that Leonard Cohen's work must all take on such a polished form, but considering that I have only recently delved into such a genre, I am not certain. I do however wish to buy more Cohen discs because of this one.
He offers something that only Nick Drake and Bob Dylan and Lou Reed can offer up ... something omnipotent, something disastrous, something beautifully alluring. I was in love when I heard the first set of chords to "Suzanne" and by the end of the disc I was in tears. There is an elegance that emits itself when he places those strict vocals on top of floaty acoustic guitars. And elegance that I crave for so much now. | 2 | positive | [
"I bought this album to satisfy something within me that needed to be satisfied, that welling pit in the middle of your heart that you seem to ignore as often as possible.",
"The hole that I was dealing with however was left by a horrid boy that caused the tissues to swell in pain, and the only thing that I could think of to cure such a broken heart was Leonard Cohen.",
"Not only did Leonard Cohen finally put me to sleep after a bout of sleepless nights; he also gave me something to rejoice in...",
"and that is life and love and such trials that life makes us endure.",
"I have too much respect for Leonard Cohen to write a decent review, but I will try.",
"Each song truly does describe an asspect of this man's enormous talent, hinting at why these tracks would be considered the best of.",
"I am certain that Leonard Cohen's work must all take on such a polished form, but considering that I have only recently delved into such a genre, I am not certain.",
"I do however wish to buy more Cohen discs because of this one.",
"He offers something that only Nick Drake and Bob Dylan and Lou Reed can offer up...",
"something omnipotent, something disastrous, something beautifully alluring.",
"I was in love when I heard the first set of chords to \"Suzanne\" and by the end of the disc I was in tears.",
"There is an elegance that emits itself when he places those strict vocals on top of floaty acoustic guitars.",
"And elegance that I crave for so much now."
] |
I saw this movie a long time ago, Probably 90s.
And after purchasing the DVD, I saw it again in 2006, Then I saw it again last night. Suddenly I missed one of the actress from the movie.
Lena Olin. I first saw her from the movie <HAVANA> She was so charming as an actress.
In this movie Daniel Day-Lewis was great as always but Lena Olin is the one who always made me want to watch this film again and again.
This movie is a long one. Pretty long. I mean it's 2 hours and 50 minutes long which means you should be prepared to spend your 3 hours to watch this film.
But you will know that not even 1 minute you will feel boring watching great actors performing there great acting.
I never liked Juliette Binoche because she looks like a boor. It's not my fault. It's her face which look like one. Some will say she has an innocent looking face. Yes at some point that's also right.
But in this movie actually it works fine. And I couldn't hate her. The director actually used her look perfectly for her charactor and I kind of liked her that way. She says to Deniel ' If you are sleeping with another woman, take me with you. I will wash her hands for you. Just don't leave me alone.'
She even allows Daniel to have sex with another woman. (Anyway she leaves Daniel a couple of times though).
I have apsolutely no interest in war stories in this film but the love and sex between the three people are very interesting.
It comes more interesting when Lena and Juliet become close.
I didn't even knew that 3 hours have been passed so quick. Although this was not the first time I watched this film. | 2 | positive | [
"I saw this movie a long time ago, Probably 90s.",
"And after purchasing the DVD, I saw it again in 2006, Then I saw it again last night.",
"Suddenly I missed one of the actress from the movie.",
"Lena Olin.",
"I first saw her from the movie <HAVANA> She was so charming as an actress.",
"In this movie Daniel Day-Lewis was great as always but Lena Olin is the one who always made me want to watch this film again and again.",
"This movie is a long one.",
"Pretty long.",
"I mean it's 2 hours and 50 minutes long which means you should be prepared to spend your 3 hours to watch this film.",
"But you will know that not even 1 minute you will feel boring watching great actors performing there great acting.",
"I never liked Juliette Binoche because she looks like a boor.",
"It's not my fault.",
"It's her face which look like one.",
"Some will say she has an innocent looking face.",
"Yes at some point that's also right.",
"But in this movie actually it works fine.",
"And I couldn't hate her.",
"The director actually used her look perfectly for her charactor and I kind of liked her that way.",
"She says to Deniel ' If you are sleeping with another woman, take me with you.",
"I will wash her hands for you.",
"Just don't leave me alone.",
"'\nShe even allows Daniel to have sex with another woman.",
"(Anyway she leaves Daniel a couple of times though).",
"I have apsolutely no interest in war stories in this film but the love and sex between the three people are very interesting.",
"It comes more interesting when Lena and Juliet become close.",
"I didn't even knew that 3 hours have been passed so quick.",
"Although this was not the first time I watched this film."
] |
Although I didn't buy this saw from Amazon, I got the very same deal from a local retailer and didn't have to wait for it to ship. For a tabletop type of unit, this saw is substantial. The soft-start motor is a nice feature but I found that the motor will sometimes bog a bit when cutting a harder type of wood. Nevertheless, the saw operates about as quiet as any similar size table saw I've seen. The stand supplied with the saw is convenient, easy to set-up and use and quite sturdy. The outfeed support and end extension are nice features and I've already had a need to use them both. The blade bevel lock lever is a knucklebuster so be careful when loosening it. Changing the blades on this saw has not been a problem thus far but I can understand the complaints from some of the other users in this forum regarding this particular area of saw operation. The blade guard/splitter unit is one-piece so there's no way to use just the splitter without the rest of the guard. If you're trying to cut really narrow stock, the guard will in your way most of the time. I built myself an auxiliary fence to work around this problem but I really wish that a standalone splitter was available. Since the saw has an aluminum table, it is very light but the aluminum requires occasional polishing to keep stock sliding over it smoothly. Since aluminum is fairly "soft", the top scratches and mars fairly easily - not a problem but something that you should be aware of. The fence thus far has been accurate - I'll be interested to see how it holds up over the long run. Overall a nice product and worthy of your serious consideration. | 2 | positive | [
"Although I didn't buy this saw from Amazon, I got the very same deal from a local retailer and didn't have to wait for it to ship.",
"For a tabletop type of unit, this saw is substantial.",
"The soft-start motor is a nice feature but I found that the motor will sometimes bog a bit when cutting a harder type of wood.",
"Nevertheless, the saw operates about as quiet as any similar size table saw I've seen.",
"The stand supplied with the saw is convenient, easy to set-up and use and quite sturdy.",
"The outfeed support and end extension are nice features and I've already had a need to use them both.",
"The blade bevel lock lever is a knucklebuster so be careful when loosening it.",
"Changing the blades on this saw has not been a problem thus far but I can understand the complaints from some of the other users in this forum regarding this particular area of saw operation.",
"The blade guard/splitter unit is one-piece so there's no way to use just the splitter without the rest of the guard.",
"If you're trying to cut really narrow stock, the guard will in your way most of the time.",
"I built myself an auxiliary fence to work around this problem but I really wish that a standalone splitter was available.",
"Since the saw has an aluminum table, it is very light but the aluminum requires occasional polishing to keep stock sliding over it smoothly.",
"Since aluminum is fairly \"soft\", the top scratches and mars fairly easily - not a problem but something that you should be aware of.",
"The fence thus far has been accurate - I'll be interested to see how it holds up over the long run.",
"Overall a nice product and worthy of your serious consideration."
] |
Somewhere along the line my toddler got introduced to marshmellows. Perhaps it was due to the fact that my wife uses them in cooking with a few items, sweet potatoes come to mind. In any case, I started using them as little rewards when the boy would do something right, as desert after a meal and as a sprinkling of things in his cereal. He just loves marshmellows. I try to keep the "candy" content of his diet down to a minimum, so I switched over to the smaller miniature marshmellows. He barely noticed. In any case the Kraft brand is excellent. They're nice and tasty and fresh. Perhaps with the next pack I'll try some of the flavored varieties.
Gary Peterson | 2 | positive | [
"Somewhere along the line my toddler got introduced to marshmellows.",
"Perhaps it was due to the fact that my wife uses them in cooking with a few items, sweet potatoes come to mind.",
"In any case, I started using them as little rewards when the boy would do something right, as desert after a meal and as a sprinkling of things in his cereal.",
"He just loves marshmellows.",
"I try to keep the \"candy\" content of his diet down to a minimum, so I switched over to the smaller miniature marshmellows.",
"He barely noticed.",
"In any case the Kraft brand is excellent.",
"They're nice and tasty and fresh.",
"Perhaps with the next pack I'll try some of the flavored varieties.",
"Gary Peterson"
] |
The main reason that I wanted this is that I got tired of reaching for my digital calipers only to find that the battery was flat. Of course, the obvious solution is to remove the battery when not in use but the fiddly nature of the battery cover precluded this. So I got this set of dial calipers.
In use the two hands rotate at different rates. The outside markings are for inches and the inside for millimetres. It is important to note that one rotation of the millimetre hand equals 2mm or put another way, 1mm equals half a rotation. I'm not sure what one rotation of the inch hand would be. I assume that its something like 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch (sorry - we don't use inches in this country).
The locking slug at the bottom initially puzzled me until I worked out that the dial itself can rotate. This is obviously useful for a floating zero whereby it is possible to measure two points neither of which is zero.
The equipment itself is well manufactured and protected in a handy plastic box. Perhaps my only criticism would be that its sometimes difficult to set it to absolute zero. As such it would be no use in an engineering scenario where absolutely accuracy is critical. It is however quite sufficient for the woodworking environment that I'm using it in. | 2 | positive | [
"The main reason that I wanted this is that I got tired of reaching for my digital calipers only to find that the battery was flat.",
"Of course, the obvious solution is to remove the battery when not in use but the fiddly nature of the battery cover precluded this.",
"So I got this set of dial calipers.",
"In use the two hands rotate at different rates.",
"The outside markings are for inches and the inside for millimetres.",
"It is important to note that one rotation of the millimetre hand equals 2mm or put another way, 1mm equals half a rotation.",
"I'm not sure what one rotation of the inch hand would be.",
"I assume that its something like 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch (sorry - we don't use inches in this country).",
"The locking slug at the bottom initially puzzled me until I worked out that the dial itself can rotate.",
"This is obviously useful for a floating zero whereby it is possible to measure two points neither of which is zero.",
"The equipment itself is well manufactured and protected in a handy plastic box.",
"Perhaps my only criticism would be that its sometimes difficult to set it to absolute zero.",
"As such it would be no use in an engineering scenario where absolutely accuracy is critical.",
"It is however quite sufficient for the woodworking environment that I'm using it in."
] |
I was fortunate enough to see Domingo and Neblett sing this opera at Covent Garden in mid 1977, so I was delighted to find the recording. (I don't remember Sherill Milnes in the role of Rance, but maybe he wasn't so famous back then!) This is Puccini's next-to-last work, and his spikiest opera, with more modern tonalities than the lush melodies of his earlier works. Even "Turandot", his last opera, brought back some of his earlier style. It is an opera that improves as it goes along, with some really great duets between Minnie and Johnson in the final scenes.
This production is excellently sung, with Domingo in wonderful young voice, and Milnes doing a superb job humanizing the evil sheriff. The soprano role is vocally very rough on the artist--Leontyne Price came famously to grief singing it at the Met in the mid '60s. Carol Neblett does a very credible job in this role. Although her Italian diction isn't the best, she sings with real intensity and security. Mehta may not be the most refined or elegant opera conductor, but he always gives a good show, and that's the case here. But the real star of this production is Milnes. This set belongs in any opera lover's collection. | 2 | positive | [
"I was fortunate enough to see Domingo and Neblett sing this opera at Covent Garden in mid 1977, so I was delighted to find the recording.",
"(I don't remember Sherill Milnes in the role of Rance, but maybe he wasn't so famous back then!",
") This is Puccini's next-to-last work, and his spikiest opera, with more modern tonalities than the lush melodies of his earlier works.",
"Even \"Turandot\", his last opera, brought back some of his earlier style.",
"It is an opera that improves as it goes along, with some really great duets between Minnie and Johnson in the final scenes.",
"This production is excellently sung, with Domingo in wonderful young voice, and Milnes doing a superb job humanizing the evil sheriff.",
"The soprano role is vocally very rough on the artist--Leontyne Price came famously to grief singing it at the Met in the mid '60s.",
"Carol Neblett does a very credible job in this role.",
"Although her Italian diction isn't the best, she sings with real intensity and security.",
"Mehta may not be the most refined or elegant opera conductor, but he always gives a good show, and that's the case here.",
"But the real star of this production is Milnes.",
"This set belongs in any opera lover's collection."
] |
Okay here's my grand daughter's comments:
Great gloss. Exotic ingredients and aroma are elements that along with the look when applied make her feel like a movie star when she wears it. The applicator takes some getting used to. Price is a bit much. Overall look and effect...very nice. She's saving it for special occasions and dates. She wishes there were a squeeze tube of the same thing because it's easier to carry and use on the run...especially for college girls. It wears well.
She had no irritation from the gloss at all and it lasted longer than her regular brand.
Would she buy it again. Yes!
Her rating: Five Stars | 2 | positive | [
"Okay here's my grand daughter's comments:\n\nGreat gloss.",
"Exotic ingredients and aroma are elements that along with the look when applied make her feel like a movie star when she wears it.",
"The applicator takes some getting used to.",
"Price is a bit much.",
"Overall look and effect...",
"very nice.",
"She's saving it for special occasions and dates.",
"She wishes there were a squeeze tube of the same thing because it's easier to carry and use on the run...",
"especially for college girls.",
"It wears well.",
"She had no irritation from the gloss at all and it lasted longer than her regular brand.",
"Would she buy it again.",
"Yes!",
"Her rating: Five Stars"
] |
This LED endoscope is attached to a sixteen foot cable and has a USB plug on the end. The length of the cable creates the capability to access many hidden or hard to reach locations so the back and interior of a variety of things may be easily viewed. It also comes with a small group of accessories to help view and retrieve lost items and obstructions.
With an ingress rating of IP67, the camera is completely protected against dust intrusion and is immersion protected for short periods of time in water. The information I found elsewhere which explained the definition of this rating defined pressure and time limitations of up to 1 meter (just over three feet) of submersion with a test duration of 30 minutes measured at the bottom of the cable, and at least 15 cm (about six inches) measured at the top of the device. I did not have a clogged pipe to thread this camera through but I won't hesitate to do it next time it happens.
After reading the included User Manual I copied the enclosed 3 inch CD to my laptop hard drive. The disc contains three applications and when I double clicked on the first one it said no capture device available so I plugged the endoscope into my USB port and the message went away but the screen was blank except for some menus. So, I closed that window and double clicked on the second application and it was also a blank screen with some menus, so I closed that one too.
When I double clicked on the third application the screen opened and the picture from the endoscope was in view. From there I tested the camera in a variety of locations and followed the instructions to capture snapshots which I have attached to this review. The software can also be used to create videos.
In addition, there was a .rar file on the included disc that when uncompressed contains a program called ViewPlayCap which can be installed on a PC by running the setup file. It is much easier to use than the other three applications on the disc. If interested in loading this program the user will need software to uncompress a .rar file such as 7Zip.
The LED lens is bright and has a wheel adjustment control on the USB plug so the light may be set for best advantage in different conditions. I removed a floor vent cover and saw bug remains in the ductwork. Then I checked behind the dryer for dust, and found some (and cleaned it, of course) but it did not make a very compelling photo so I took a picture of the label on the back of the dryer to show the clarity of the image. And finally, I took a picture behind some audio video equipment. This area is always difficult to get at and the endoscope provided a way to check empty ports and confirm tight connections.
The cost is modest considering many 16 foot cables alone are priced in this range. This endoscope has many uses and the only limitations I noticed were minor. When used in a large space the cable was difficult to precisely direct so time was required to maneuver it into position. But, it is perfect to thread into tight spots, like a car engine, and with patience, it works just fine in larger openings. Review sample received. | 2 | positive | [
"This LED endoscope is attached to a sixteen foot cable and has a USB plug on the end.",
"The length of the cable creates the capability to access many hidden or hard to reach locations so the back and interior of a variety of things may be easily viewed.",
"It also comes with a small group of accessories to help view and retrieve lost items and obstructions.",
"With an ingress rating of IP67, the camera is completely protected against dust intrusion and is immersion protected for short periods of time in water.",
"The information I found elsewhere which explained the definition of this rating defined pressure and time limitations of up to 1 meter (just over three feet) of submersion with a test duration of 30 minutes measured at the bottom of the cable, and at least 15 cm (about six inches) measured at the top of the device.",
"I did not have a clogged pipe to thread this camera through but I won't hesitate to do it next time it happens.",
"After reading the included User Manual I copied the enclosed 3 inch CD to my laptop hard drive.",
"The disc contains three applications and when I double clicked on the first one it said no capture device available so I plugged the endoscope into my USB port and the message went away but the screen was blank except for some menus.",
"So, I closed that window and double clicked on the second application and it was also a blank screen with some menus, so I closed that one too.",
"When I double clicked on the third application the screen opened and the picture from the endoscope was in view.",
"From there I tested the camera in a variety of locations and followed the instructions to capture snapshots which I have attached to this review.",
"The software can also be used to create videos.",
"In addition, there was a.",
"rar file on the included disc that when uncompressed contains a program called ViewPlayCap which can be installed on a PC by running the setup file.",
"It is much easier to use than the other three applications on the disc.",
"If interested in loading this program the user will need software to uncompress a.",
"rar file such as 7Zip.",
"The LED lens is bright and has a wheel adjustment control on the USB plug so the light may be set for best advantage in different conditions.",
"I removed a floor vent cover and saw bug remains in the ductwork.",
"Then I checked behind the dryer for dust, and found some (and cleaned it, of course) but it did not make a very compelling photo so I took a picture of the label on the back of the dryer to show the clarity of the image.",
"And finally, I took a picture behind some audio video equipment.",
"This area is always difficult to get at and the endoscope provided a way to check empty ports and confirm tight connections.",
"The cost is modest considering many 16 foot cables alone are priced in this range.",
"This endoscope has many uses and the only limitations I noticed were minor.",
"When used in a large space the cable was difficult to precisely direct so time was required to maneuver it into position.",
"But, it is perfect to thread into tight spots, like a car engine, and with patience, it works just fine in larger openings.",
"Review sample received."
] |
My son loves his Scootin' Thomas (as does his big sister. They quarrel over it more than any toy we have right now). He has played with it every day since he got it in December.
Initially, I was a little hesitant to buy it as he is three; but I'm so glad we did. He just **really** likes it, and hauls it around everywhere: inside and out, upstairs and down.
Notes:
--the other reviewer is correct. The black handle comes off easily.
--we have a motorized ride-on train that we inherited (alas not Thomas). It was fun, but has been relegated to a dark shed now that Thomas is here.
Five Stars. Kinda expensive, but not when compared to the motorized Thomas train (yikes!). Our children are really enjoying it. | 2 | positive | [
"My son loves his Scootin' Thomas (as does his big sister.",
"They quarrel over it more than any toy we have right now).",
"He has played with it every day since he got it in December.",
"Initially, I was a little hesitant to buy it as he is three; but I'm so glad we did.",
"He just **really** likes it, and hauls it around everywhere: inside and out, upstairs and down.",
"Notes:\n--the other reviewer is correct.",
"The black handle comes off easily.",
"--we have a motorized ride-on train that we inherited (alas not Thomas).",
"It was fun, but has been relegated to a dark shed now that Thomas is here.",
"Five Stars.",
"Kinda expensive, but not when compared to the motorized Thomas train (yikes!",
").",
"Our children are really enjoying it."
] |
I have a large LCD TV (Samsung 52" 750 series) and since it sat in a corner I needed to be able to rotate it for best viewing from several different angles. There are some very expensive options out there that replace the entire TV stand, but I did not see the need to spend that much. Then I saw the Sanus TV32 and TV27. At first I considered the TV27, but I think if you are going to use a large LCD TV (like a 52"), you should go with the TV32 model. It fits the bottom of the Samsung 750 very well. If you had a 46" LCD, the TV27 would likely be fine.
The base of this turntable is very, very solid. It's hard as a rock actually. I would have liked to have seen a bit more sturdiness in the actual turntable wheel, but it still works very well. I can turn my large LCD very easily. You can shake the TV and stand a bit, but I feel comfortable with the turntable. You actually have to shake the TV with your hands, it's not like you can walk by the TV and have it shake from the floor. It might not work with all large LCD TVs, but I do not hesitate recommending this product for standard TVs or LCDs. You should give it a try. | 2 | positive | [
"I have a large LCD TV (Samsung 52\" 750 series) and since it sat in a corner I needed to be able to rotate it for best viewing from several different angles.",
"There are some very expensive options out there that replace the entire TV stand, but I did not see the need to spend that much.",
"Then I saw the Sanus TV32 and TV27.",
"At first I considered the TV27, but I think if you are going to use a large LCD TV (like a 52\"), you should go with the TV32 model.",
"It fits the bottom of the Samsung 750 very well.",
"If you had a 46\" LCD, the TV27 would likely be fine.",
"The base of this turntable is very, very solid.",
"It's hard as a rock actually.",
"I would have liked to have seen a bit more sturdiness in the actual turntable wheel, but it still works very well.",
"I can turn my large LCD very easily.",
"You can shake the TV and stand a bit, but I feel comfortable with the turntable.",
"You actually have to shake the TV with your hands, it's not like you can walk by the TV and have it shake from the floor.",
"It might not work with all large LCD TVs, but I do not hesitate recommending this product for standard TVs or LCDs.",
"You should give it a try."
] |
The twelfth of the Nancy Drew Mystery Series. Things are graded A-F, just like school.
The Crime: C
It's 1930, and Nancy stops by the home of Emily Crandall to check on her. The girl has recently lost her mother, and now has said she is seeing things. She asks Nancy to put her mother's jewels in a safe, but before Nancy can do so, an explosion occurrs! The jewelry is stolen and Nancy Drew begins her first case.
Also on the docket is finding out what happened to Josiah Crowley, a local eccentric who had promised to leave money to Emily. The Depression is starting and the young girl can use all the help she can get!
Suspects include Emily's guardian Jane W., kind banker Mr. Archer, and "psychic" Richard Topham (who also happens to be Josiah's sole heir).
My thought on this was that the crime was trying too hard. It left me feeling indifferent.
Puzzles: B
The look and feel of the puzzles was great. My favorite one was the number/symbol game in the carriage house. I agonized over it, but I loved it. Ultimately, though, there didn't seem to be a lot of puzzles in this game at all. Not as many as previous games.
Gameplay: B
This game is more a fetch-and-carry than a mystery. The mystery tends to get lost while Nancy spends most of her time running errands for people around town. Everybody has a line like, "Oh, I would love to do that for you, Nancy, but first I have to..." and of course Nancy volunteers. This happens over and over. Even Nancy comments to Bess, "You wouldn't believe what I had to go through..."
You drive Nancy's roadster, which I liked, deliver telegrams for extra money (which I liked, but got tedious after a while), explore hidden passages, fish the local waterhole, and play mini-golf.
One thing I didn't like was that the mini-golf was disconnected from the game. In CUR, Jane's games had to be won at some point in order to get something. In CLK, the mini-golf is obviously there only an extra.
HI did a good time integrating the time period and the Great Depression into the game without hitting us over the head with it. I really liked how you could experience the town and the townspeople, even though you could only actually enter a few locations (they used black-and-white period pictures to show you the rest).
There are no spooky moments, no suspense, and no thrills and chills here at all. The closest you come is when Nancy scares herself in the hidden passage.
This is the shortest Nancy Drew game ever made, with the exception of SCK. I finished in 7 hours, and that is unlike me. I was disappointed; I expect more bang for my $20.
Time Changes: None. This all takes place in a single day.
Voice Acting: B
The voices all kind of rolled off me. They were wonderfully done, but they were missing some "oomph." Emily seems sad and delicate, Jane is blowsy, Richard is a slick public speaker-type, and Mr. Archer is a nice guy.
Carson Drew was excellent and is the reason for the "B". He's perfect: wise, patient, kind, loving. Nancy's relationship with him is spelled out in the first phone call - they love each other, and he thinks she's a smart cookie. Perfect.
The people who stood out to me were the bit players - Mrs. Jakowski, good-time-girl and local phone operator, and Mrs. O'Shea, patroness of the orphanage.
Music: B
Period, and very nice, but again, I was sort of indifferent. I did find myself nodding my head to the jazzy ragtime that plays in The Lilac Inn's entrance hall.
Graphics/Video: A
The best yet, of course. One gripe I do have is why are all the slim girls so frightening? Jane in CUR and Emily in this game are scarily thin. If you look at Emily's feet as she sits in the window seat, you can tell that the size of her legs and feet is so small as to be almost impossible. Why can't HI do a skinny girl without her being out of proportion?
Technical: A
Perfectly perfect.
Overall, I think this one is neat and entertaining, a great way to pass a few hours, but it was lacking The Wow Factor for me. I just wasn't dazzled by what I saw like I have been in the past.
If you love Nancy Drew, this one's for you. Play it and have a good time. Don't be surprised if it falls a little short, though. | 2 | positive | [
"The twelfth of the Nancy Drew Mystery Series.",
"Things are graded A-F, just like school.",
"The Crime: C\n\nIt's 1930, and Nancy stops by the home of Emily Crandall to check on her.",
"The girl has recently lost her mother, and now has said she is seeing things.",
"She asks Nancy to put her mother's jewels in a safe, but before Nancy can do so, an explosion occurrs!",
"The jewelry is stolen and Nancy Drew begins her first case.",
"Also on the docket is finding out what happened to Josiah Crowley, a local eccentric who had promised to leave money to Emily.",
"The Depression is starting and the young girl can use all the help she can get!",
"Suspects include Emily's guardian Jane W.",
", kind banker Mr.",
"Archer, and \"psychic\" Richard Topham (who also happens to be Josiah's sole heir).",
"My thought on this was that the crime was trying too hard.",
"It left me feeling indifferent.",
"Puzzles: B\n\nThe look and feel of the puzzles was great.",
"My favorite one was the number/symbol game in the carriage house.",
"I agonized over it, but I loved it.",
"Ultimately, though, there didn't seem to be a lot of puzzles in this game at all.",
"Not as many as previous games.",
"Gameplay: B\n\nThis game is more a fetch-and-carry than a mystery.",
"The mystery tends to get lost while Nancy spends most of her time running errands for people around town.",
"Everybody has a line like, \"Oh, I would love to do that for you, Nancy, but first I have to...",
"\" and of course Nancy volunteers.",
"This happens over and over.",
"Even Nancy comments to Bess, \"You wouldn't believe what I had to go through...",
"\"\n\nYou drive Nancy's roadster, which I liked, deliver telegrams for extra money (which I liked, but got tedious after a while), explore hidden passages, fish the local waterhole, and play mini-golf.",
"One thing I didn't like was that the mini-golf was disconnected from the game.",
"In CUR, Jane's games had to be won at some point in order to get something.",
"In CLK, the mini-golf is obviously there only an extra.",
"HI did a good time integrating the time period and the Great Depression into the game without hitting us over the head with it.",
"I really liked how you could experience the town and the townspeople, even though you could only actually enter a few locations (they used black-and-white period pictures to show you the rest).",
"There are no spooky moments, no suspense, and no thrills and chills here at all.",
"The closest you come is when Nancy scares herself in the hidden passage.",
"This is the shortest Nancy Drew game ever made, with the exception of SCK.",
"I finished in 7 hours, and that is unlike me.",
"I was disappointed; I expect more bang for my $20.",
"Time Changes: None.",
"This all takes place in a single day.",
"Voice Acting: B\n\nThe voices all kind of rolled off me.",
"They were wonderfully done, but they were missing some \"oomph.",
"\" Emily seems sad and delicate, Jane is blowsy, Richard is a slick public speaker-type, and Mr.",
"Archer is a nice guy.",
"Carson Drew was excellent and is the reason for the \"B\".",
"He's perfect: wise, patient, kind, loving.",
"Nancy's relationship with him is spelled out in the first phone call - they love each other, and he thinks she's a smart cookie.",
"Perfect.",
"The people who stood out to me were the bit players - Mrs.",
"Jakowski, good-time-girl and local phone operator, and Mrs.",
"O'Shea, patroness of the orphanage.",
"Music: B\n\nPeriod, and very nice, but again, I was sort of indifferent.",
"I did find myself nodding my head to the jazzy ragtime that plays in The Lilac Inn's entrance hall.",
"Graphics/Video: A\n\nThe best yet, of course.",
"One gripe I do have is why are all the slim girls so frightening?",
"Jane in CUR and Emily in this game are scarily thin.",
"If you look at Emily's feet as she sits in the window seat, you can tell that the size of her legs and feet is so small as to be almost impossible.",
"Why can't HI do a skinny girl without her being out of proportion?",
"Technical: A\n\nPerfectly perfect.",
"Overall, I think this one is neat and entertaining, a great way to pass a few hours, but it was lacking The Wow Factor for me.",
"I just wasn't dazzled by what I saw like I have been in the past.",
"If you love Nancy Drew, this one's for you.",
"Play it and have a good time.",
"Don't be surprised if it falls a little short, though."
] |
After using Siri all day on my phone, I wanted the convenience of voice activation on my pc. I tried Dragon over 10 years ago when it first came out and was less than impressed. I'm loving this latest version! It was easy to set up - it takes minutes to walk through the steps and you're ready to go! You need to speak clearly when using and it has trouble recognizing unique words. Dragon even automatically capitalizes obvious Proper Nouns like names. I dictated a paragraph to Windows built-in speech recognition and compared it to the same paragraph read via Dragon and Dragon outperformed and had much less errors. No Contest! I have the software for MAC but the Windows version is compatible not only with IE and Chrome, the obvious, but Firefox as well! I'm a huge fan of Firefox but not all software plays nicely with this outsider. I am seriously considering purchasing the Windows version but the price is steep for the convenience.
I have the feeling that I am missing some functions as I'm not a techie but this software does an amazing job for my purposes (writing letters and speeches, Facebook posts, etc.) | 2 | positive | [
"After using Siri all day on my phone, I wanted the convenience of voice activation on my pc.",
"I tried Dragon over 10 years ago when it first came out and was less than impressed.",
"I'm loving this latest version!",
"It was easy to set up - it takes minutes to walk through the steps and you're ready to go!",
"You need to speak clearly when using and it has trouble recognizing unique words.",
"Dragon even automatically capitalizes obvious Proper Nouns like names.",
"I dictated a paragraph to Windows built-in speech recognition and compared it to the same paragraph read via Dragon and Dragon outperformed and had much less errors.",
"No Contest!",
"I have the software for MAC but the Windows version is compatible not only with IE and Chrome, the obvious, but Firefox as well!",
"I'm a huge fan of Firefox but not all software plays nicely with this outsider.",
"I am seriously considering purchasing the Windows version but the price is steep for the convenience.",
"I have the feeling that I am missing some functions as I'm not a techie but this software does an amazing job for my purposes (writing letters and speeches, Facebook posts, etc.",
")"
] |
I really like quality of Belkin products and will always try out a Belkin product before a no name brand.
In this wall charger did not disappoint. I purchased this one keep in the car at all times. That way I always have a charger with me if for some reason my phone is getting low and I'm not at home.
How many times have you been at a friends house and your phone is getting low or you havegone for a three day weekend and forgot to pack a charger. I figured this one's always in the car how always have 11 when I need one.
But what I didn't realize would be so handy was the swivel. It is been invaluable. Whether I'm plugging it into a power strip that's filled with the wall warts in different sites towards or I'm just plugging it into a wall outlet that's in a cramped area. Swivel has been a lifesaver. Seriously you will want to have this you'll one on any charger you have.
The only complaint I have with this is the lightning cable that comes with it. Like most aftermarket Lightning cables the end that plugs into the iPhone is much fatter then factory cables and therefore it will not fit while my case it Is on the phone. So I toss the cable to the side and just carry a factory lightning cable with me.
Overall it's a great little charger you will be happy with and once again Belkin made a high-quality useful product. | 2 | positive | [
"I really like quality of Belkin products and will always try out a Belkin product before a no name brand.",
"In this wall charger did not disappoint.",
"I purchased this one keep in the car at all times.",
"That way I always have a charger with me if for some reason my phone is getting low and I'm not at home.",
"How many times have you been at a friends house and your phone is getting low or you havegone for a three day weekend and forgot to pack a charger.",
"I figured this one's always in the car how always have 11 when I need one.",
"But what I didn't realize would be so handy was the swivel.",
"It is been invaluable.",
"Whether I'm plugging it into a power strip that's filled with the wall warts in different sites towards or I'm just plugging it into a wall outlet that's in a cramped area.",
"Swivel has been a lifesaver.",
"Seriously you will want to have this you'll one on any charger you have.",
"The only complaint I have with this is the lightning cable that comes with it.",
"Like most aftermarket Lightning cables the end that plugs into the iPhone is much fatter then factory cables and therefore it will not fit while my case it Is on the phone.",
"So I toss the cable to the side and just carry a factory lightning cable with me.",
"Overall it's a great little charger you will be happy with and once again Belkin made a high-quality useful product."
] |
Despite only being able to hook up to a CR TV the atari flash back 2 should be treasured for as old as the system it is. Porting all the greats from the Atari 2600's time. Atari Climber Asteroids Centipede and more it has a charm that will never be matched. Before we had game systems like the Wii PS3 and XBox 360 there was tons of other game systems. ColecoVision. Intellivision, The Odyssey and Atari 2600. (As well as many many others.) If you value games from the past alot pick this up. This was the systems of the past. And for a treasure like this to creep into the 21st Century is extremely rare to find. Own it before it fades away into nothing but a memory to capture the greatness of games from the past. On another positive note, You can also unscrew the joystick on the Atari controllers for carrying them around on trips which make them very accessible for travel because the screw inside the controllers are made of solid Metal. So no easy breaking. Overall I give this console a 8.5 for design it resembles the 2600 almost exactly a little smaller yes but otherwise still as satisfying. Pick one up Its worth the money. | 2 | positive | [
"Despite only being able to hook up to a CR TV the atari flash back 2 should be treasured for as old as the system it is.",
"Porting all the greats from the Atari 2600's time.",
"Atari Climber Asteroids Centipede and more it has a charm that will never be matched.",
"Before we had game systems like the Wii PS3 and XBox 360 there was tons of other game systems.",
"ColecoVision.",
"Intellivision, The Odyssey and Atari 2600.",
"(As well as many many others.",
") If you value games from the past alot pick this up.",
"This was the systems of the past.",
"And for a treasure like this to creep into the 21st Century is extremely rare to find.",
"Own it before it fades away into nothing but a memory to capture the greatness of games from the past.",
"On another positive note, You can also unscrew the joystick on the Atari controllers for carrying them around on trips which make them very accessible for travel because the screw inside the controllers are made of solid Metal.",
"So no easy breaking.",
"Overall I give this console a 8.",
"5 for design it resembles the 2600 almost exactly a little smaller yes but otherwise still as satisfying.",
"Pick one up Its worth the money."
] |
Not only is this a great concept album by Stevie, it's also his best effort and it also stands the test of time to emerge as one of the best albums of all time. As they say, "the cream always rises to the top" and this is surely the case for this album. This gatefold mini-lp sleeve cardboard replica version is also the best version of the album that is out there at the moment. The sound quality is good due to the remastering job they did although not great which is understandable given the state of the 1976 original master and so some tracks have higher volume levels than others. However, the tracks are things of beauty and stand the test of time. Although there is "single" material in here, the only way to truly appreciate this work of art is to listen to the whole thing at one go. For the record, the "single" stuff that still sound good today are: "Sir Duke" and "Isn't She Lovely". The other standout tracks must be "Pastime Paradise" later ripped off to great effect for the "Dangerous Minds" soundtrack "Gangster's Paradise" and "Black Man" is a fantastic study in slap bass that would make Mark King of Level 42 proud. There is also a track on disc two that sounds a lot like Lionel Ritchie's "All Night Long." It's obvious that many, many artistes have been inspired over the years by this album and I sure many, many more will be over the decades to come. Very highly recommended. | 2 | positive | [
"Not only is this a great concept album by Stevie, it's also his best effort and it also stands the test of time to emerge as one of the best albums of all time.",
"As they say, \"the cream always rises to the top\" and this is surely the case for this album.",
"This gatefold mini-lp sleeve cardboard replica version is also the best version of the album that is out there at the moment.",
"The sound quality is good due to the remastering job they did although not great which is understandable given the state of the 1976 original master and so some tracks have higher volume levels than others.",
"However, the tracks are things of beauty and stand the test of time.",
"Although there is \"single\" material in here, the only way to truly appreciate this work of art is to listen to the whole thing at one go.",
"For the record, the \"single\" stuff that still sound good today are: \"Sir Duke\" and \"Isn't She Lovely\".",
"The other standout tracks must be \"Pastime Paradise\" later ripped off to great effect for the \"Dangerous Minds\" soundtrack \"Gangster's Paradise\" and \"Black Man\" is a fantastic study in slap bass that would make Mark King of Level 42 proud.",
"There is also a track on disc two that sounds a lot like Lionel Ritchie's \"All Night Long.",
"\" It's obvious that many, many artistes have been inspired over the years by this album and I sure many, many more will be over the decades to come.",
"Very highly recommended."
] |
This is the best travel filter. We use this filter for all our water while traveling in Ghana, West Africa. At the house we use the Katydyn cerradine but it's too big to lug around. We use this to filter pipe water and lake water. We don't get our water near the villages, we get it out away from the banks. I think it would work but I believe the element lasts longer if you start with relatively clean water. The water always tastes great and of course no diseases, of which there are plenty around. Ten years so far in Africa with this filter. I also use it for domestic camping. Started using this filter (which has evolved over the years) almost 20 years ago. Viruses, bacteria, parasites, chemicals, heavy metals all taken care of. | 2 | positive | [
"This is the best travel filter.",
"We use this filter for all our water while traveling in Ghana, West Africa.",
"At the house we use the Katydyn cerradine but it's too big to lug around.",
"We use this to filter pipe water and lake water.",
"We don't get our water near the villages, we get it out away from the banks.",
"I think it would work but I believe the element lasts longer if you start with relatively clean water.",
"The water always tastes great and of course no diseases, of which there are plenty around.",
"Ten years so far in Africa with this filter.",
"I also use it for domestic camping.",
"Started using this filter (which has evolved over the years) almost 20 years ago.",
"Viruses, bacteria, parasites, chemicals, heavy metals all taken care of."
] |
I want to say, I read some great reviews on this game and decided to try it. Its awsome!!!The coolest star wars villain ever, Jango fett, is obviousley your character. You get to use sweet gagdets, like flamethower, whipcord, jetpack, toxic darts, and more!!!The graphics are good and the controls are easy, but one thing....Its incredibly hard at times!!!(also said in other reviews)You can save only after beating the levels,there are checkpoints, but you only get 5 lives before you must restart the WHOLE LEVEL, which is extremely frusterating at times. I had to use codes after the asteroid prison levels!!!And those are still extremely hard to beat. A word of advice, if you don't have patience you will not enjoy this game AT ALL especially some of the tedious jumps with your jetpack. Overall,4.5 stars really. | 2 | positive | [
"I want to say, I read some great reviews on this game and decided to try it.",
"Its awsome!!!",
"The coolest star wars villain ever, Jango fett, is obviousley your character.",
"You get to use sweet gagdets, like flamethower, whipcord, jetpack, toxic darts, and more!!!",
"The graphics are good and the controls are easy, but one thing....",
"Its incredibly hard at times!!!",
"(also said in other reviews)You can save only after beating the levels,there are checkpoints, but you only get 5 lives before you must restart the WHOLE LEVEL, which is extremely frusterating at times.",
"I had to use codes after the asteroid prison levels!!!",
"And those are still extremely hard to beat.",
"A word of advice, if you don't have patience you will not enjoy this game AT ALL especially some of the tedious jumps with your jetpack.",
"Overall,4.",
"5 stars really."
] |
C.S. Lewis is a well known author for many reasons, and for many books. My very favorite of his books is "Mere Christianity" which can be read by both branches of Christianity.....Protestant, and Catholic alike, and enjoyed by those who are new to this religion. The explanations given are just as valid today, as when C. S. Lewis wrote them way back when! I highly recomend this book to the new Christian, and to the old one alike. This book is both inspiring and captivating! | 2 | positive | [
"C.",
"S. Lewis is a well known author for many reasons, and for many books.",
"My very favorite of his books is \"Mere Christianity\" which can be read by both branches of Christianity....",
".",
"Protestant, and Catholic alike, and enjoyed by those who are new to this religion.",
"The explanations given are just as valid today, as when C.",
"S.",
"Lewis wrote them way back when!",
"I highly recomend this book to the new Christian, and to the old one alike.",
"This book is both inspiring and captivating!"
] |
I just bought the game today, and I've now been playing it for over two hours now(I took a break to eat and write this review). I've watched the trailers for this game and read all the hoopla surrounding the release and actually allowed myself to get built up over it.
The differences between The Sims and The Sims 2 is noticeable from the beginning. First off, the graphics. They're amazing. I've only had a few stutters in the video, but nothing to be annoyed with otr upset about. If you don't have a powerful video card, lots of RAM, and a decent processor, you shouldn't get this game yet. The graphics will push your PC too hard. I'm running a self built computer with an AMD XP 2500+, ATI Radeon All-in-Wonder 9600 128 MB DDR, 1.5 GB Ram, and a lot of hard drive space. I knew my PC could handle it.
The game didn't crash on me at all. It held up, even with a lot of other Sims in my residence.
Gameplay is similar to the original Sims game. It's got some of the same interactions, but, to me, it has a slew of new interactions. Instead of watching still pictures on the TV, you can now watch motion pictures right along with your Sims. You now get days off from work and earn vacation time. How sweet is that! Building a house can be a chore, but once you master the controls it becomes a lot easier.
The objects in build and buy mode could have more items. The Sims 1 had more item options to choose from. The object thing is my only complaint so far, but it's not enough to lower a rating of five stars.
There are many other values this game has, but I've yet to explore them. I'm sure I'll have fun with them.
So, to all the negative reviews, I've given my one positive. Buy this game if your PC can handle it. | 2 | positive | [
"I just bought the game today, and I've now been playing it for over two hours now(I took a break to eat and write this review).",
"I've watched the trailers for this game and read all the hoopla surrounding the release and actually allowed myself to get built up over it.",
"The differences between The Sims and The Sims 2 is noticeable from the beginning.",
"First off, the graphics.",
"They're amazing.",
"I've only had a few stutters in the video, but nothing to be annoyed with otr upset about.",
"If you don't have a powerful video card, lots of RAM, and a decent processor, you shouldn't get this game yet.",
"The graphics will push your PC too hard.",
"I'm running a self built computer with an AMD XP 2500+, ATI Radeon All-in-Wonder 9600 128 MB DDR, 1.",
"5 GB Ram, and a lot of hard drive space.",
"I knew my PC could handle it.",
"The game didn't crash on me at all.",
"It held up, even with a lot of other Sims in my residence.",
"Gameplay is similar to the original Sims game.",
"It's got some of the same interactions, but, to me, it has a slew of new interactions.",
"Instead of watching still pictures on the TV, you can now watch motion pictures right along with your Sims.",
"You now get days off from work and earn vacation time.",
"How sweet is that!",
"Building a house can be a chore, but once you master the controls it becomes a lot easier.",
"The objects in build and buy mode could have more items.",
"The Sims 1 had more item options to choose from.",
"The object thing is my only complaint so far, but it's not enough to lower a rating of five stars.",
"There are many other values this game has, but I've yet to explore them.",
"I'm sure I'll have fun with them.",
"So, to all the negative reviews, I've given my one positive.",
"Buy this game if your PC can handle it."
] |
Natalie Prass' 'Short Court Style' Is A Lush '70s Throwback : NPR
Songs We Love: Natalie Prass ' Short Court Style'
Natalie Prass corkscrewed some solid Americana roots with her self-titled debut back in 2015 building off chops from touring with Jenny Lewis and of course the twangy pedigree booking time Nashville inherently affords. "Short Court Style " her first single from the forthcoming The Future and The Past captures a move deeper than her literal one to Richmond Va. Seeped in sugary white-sand synth and jazzy guitar grooves that nod to the late '70s the track sets sail in a new direction for Prass .
The throwback feel Prass conjures on the song isn't what's new. (She nailed Dusty Springfield-style soul three years ago.) This go Prass blends ornate sentimentalism with practical wisdom. Layered lush vocals overflow a chalice like a cascade of grace opening the song. It's contemplation beneath the guise of a starry velvet cape; one that can obscure the torturous back-and-forth of a boomerang relationship.
Although Prass owns up to the ambivalence of the situation she remains optimistic with an after-dark coconut rum-soaked carousel chorus: "You spin me round / Round and round / And ups and downs / Knowing I can't be without / My love that I have found." The video's merry-go-round lends a natural visual spinning as Prass holds on tight and smiles. It isn't yacht rock but there's an undeniably glitzy nautical component.
"Short Court Style" is a departure that given the critic sweetheart status of Natalie Prass could be seen as a risk. However here we find Prass shedding Disney princess comparisons and instead gloving up to pole-vault across soft sands with The Future and The Past. | 2 | positive | [
"Natalie Prass' 'Short Court Style' Is A Lush '70s Throwback : NPR\nSongs We Love: Natalie Prass ' Short Court Style'\nNatalie Prass corkscrewed some solid Americana roots with her self-titled debut back in 2015 building off chops from touring with Jenny Lewis and of course the twangy pedigree booking time Nashville inherently affords.",
"\"Short Court Style \" her first single from the forthcoming The Future and The Past captures a move deeper than her literal one to Richmond Va.",
"Seeped in sugary white-sand synth and jazzy guitar grooves that nod to the late '70s the track sets sail in a new direction for Prass.",
"The throwback feel Prass conjures on the song isn't what's new.",
"(She nailed Dusty Springfield-style soul three years ago.",
") This go Prass blends ornate sentimentalism with practical wisdom.",
"Layered lush vocals overflow a chalice like a cascade of grace opening the song.",
"It's contemplation beneath the guise of a starry velvet cape; one that can obscure the torturous back-and-forth of a boomerang relationship.",
"Although Prass owns up to the ambivalence of the situation she remains optimistic with an after-dark coconut rum-soaked carousel chorus: \"You spin me round / Round and round / And ups and downs / Knowing I can't be without / My love that I have found.",
"\" The video's merry-go-round lends a natural visual spinning as Prass holds on tight and smiles.",
"It isn't yacht rock but there's an undeniably glitzy nautical component.",
"\"Short Court Style\" is a departure that given the critic sweetheart status of Natalie Prass could be seen as a risk.",
"However here we find Prass shedding Disney princess comparisons and instead gloving up to pole-vault across soft sands with The Future and The Past."
] |
I was a bit too hasty to discredit this very fine recording by Karajan in my earlier review which I have now erased. The thing is, this recording is actually quite good. It is pretty much the same Karajan standard you are used to from earlier recordings of the 1960's and 1970's. The biggest advantage this Karajan Gold 9th has over it's predecessors is the digital sound which has great impact. The climaxes in the first movement especially are audacious, Karajan obviously going for broke. This has just about as much intensity in the first movement as Karajan's famous 1962 recording and trumps the 1977 version quite handily.
The famous 1962 performance was a tour-de-force, truly exceptional. The biggest problem with that record was it's dispersed, somewhat muzzy sound for the chorus in the finale, plus some of the instrumental detail, like the timpani, was obscured by Karajan's over emphasis on the strings. I think this was a fault of the recorded sound, not just a case of the famous Karajan string soup.
The famous 1977 performance was also great but suffers from sound problems of a different sort. There the sound was recorded up close and personal which gave you some gutsy timpani playing but lacked a natural acoustic, especially in the grand finale, which had the soloists and chorus claustophobically miked up close and shouting in your ears! Plus the performance lacked some of the sheer inspiration of the 1962 account.
This final Karajan 9th is digital and the sound is finally fixed up to a high standard, not the finest in the world, but certainly among the best I've heard for the 9th. Karajan's performance is full of power and maniacal energy in the first two movements with plenty of instrumental detail, timpani, brass, woodwinds, strings. The adagio is gorgeous too, so once again we fall on the finale, is it do or die? The sound is so much better here in the chorus than Karajan's earlier versions. The chorus is not distant or dispersed, nor is it up close and claustrophobic, it's set in a perfectly natural acoustic, sounds massive and extremely powerful, some of the climaxes will obliterate your stereo! The biggest hurdle here is the soloists, they are too lightweight compared to the great, starry names from the 1962 recording. Here on the digital version, Jose Van Dam isn't dark enough, he's not a bass. The soprano is wobbly, the mezzo is much better. Vinson Cole the tenor is too light and sounds like a young boy. Those are basically the demerits of this 9th, it is spectacular in many places and worth owning, not just for Karajan fans but all who care about this immortal Beethoven masterpiece. If you can live with the not so great soloists, you'll find this to be a fantastic recording. | 2 | positive | [
"I was a bit too hasty to discredit this very fine recording by Karajan in my earlier review which I have now erased.",
"The thing is, this recording is actually quite good.",
"It is pretty much the same Karajan standard you are used to from earlier recordings of the 1960's and 1970's.",
"The biggest advantage this Karajan Gold 9th has over it's predecessors is the digital sound which has great impact.",
"The climaxes in the first movement especially are audacious, Karajan obviously going for broke.",
"This has just about as much intensity in the first movement as Karajan's famous 1962 recording and trumps the 1977 version quite handily.",
"The famous 1962 performance was a tour-de-force, truly exceptional.",
"The biggest problem with that record was it's dispersed, somewhat muzzy sound for the chorus in the finale, plus some of the instrumental detail, like the timpani, was obscured by Karajan's over emphasis on the strings.",
"I think this was a fault of the recorded sound, not just a case of the famous Karajan string soup.",
"The famous 1977 performance was also great but suffers from sound problems of a different sort.",
"There the sound was recorded up close and personal which gave you some gutsy timpani playing but lacked a natural acoustic, especially in the grand finale, which had the soloists and chorus claustophobically miked up close and shouting in your ears!",
"Plus the performance lacked some of the sheer inspiration of the 1962 account.",
"This final Karajan 9th is digital and the sound is finally fixed up to a high standard, not the finest in the world, but certainly among the best I've heard for the 9th.",
"Karajan's performance is full of power and maniacal energy in the first two movements with plenty of instrumental detail, timpani, brass, woodwinds, strings.",
"The adagio is gorgeous too, so once again we fall on the finale, is it do or die?",
"The sound is so much better here in the chorus than Karajan's earlier versions.",
"The chorus is not distant or dispersed, nor is it up close and claustrophobic, it's set in a perfectly natural acoustic, sounds massive and extremely powerful, some of the climaxes will obliterate your stereo!",
"The biggest hurdle here is the soloists, they are too lightweight compared to the great, starry names from the 1962 recording.",
"Here on the digital version, Jose Van Dam isn't dark enough, he's not a bass.",
"The soprano is wobbly, the mezzo is much better.",
"Vinson Cole the tenor is too light and sounds like a young boy.",
"Those are basically the demerits of this 9th, it is spectacular in many places and worth owning, not just for Karajan fans but all who care about this immortal Beethoven masterpiece.",
"If you can live with the not so great soloists, you'll find this to be a fantastic recording."
] |
This was the first fantasy novel that I read and still the best by far in terms of originality, sensitivity towards the subject matter, and all-round writing talent. My fears were that it would be like all the 'traditional' fantasy that graces children's movies - goblins, magicians, magic frogs, etc. - but I gave it a go and was swept into Ms. Hobb's vividly conceptualised world that contained no goblins, no magicians and, believe it or not, no magic frogs whatsoever.
Hobb sets The Liveship Traders series in a land far to the south of the Six Duchies that were featured in her earlier Farseer series (which I also wholeheartedly recommend). It principally (but not exclusively) concerns Bingtown, a trader port that is part of the Satrapy of a corrupt and negligent Jamaillia, and Divvytown, an outlaw community in the Pirate Isles. The attention to realism was the first thing that grabbed me about Hobb's style; far from being an Emerald City in a Forgotten Forest, we have essentially a colony reminiscent of pre-Revolutionary America, pinned between aggressive foreign governments and an uncaring ruler, plagued by pirates, and struggling for credence and independence in a land far removed from their pre-colonial roots. Bingtown itself is very well thought out, a town where the Old Traders with their Bingtown traditions are being usurped by the New Traders who have bought their way into society from the dishonest Satrap. Indeed, the resistance to change of the Old Traders is highly reminiscent of the upper-crust British aristocracy of the late nineteenth century, social graces of as much importance as power and money, but infused with the aforementioned desire for autonomy.
The story line is contentious and moving and action-packed all at the same time, enough there to keep a mainstream action fan happy and even, perhaps, a Jane Austen enthusiast. Despite its fantastical setting, it deals with strong contemporary issues such as domineering parents Hell-bent upon control, the position of women in society, Government corruption, nepotism, and many more, and still has time for a few moral debates on the concept of slavery and the ethics of fair trade. Add to this an array of intelligent sea serpents questing after lost memory, pirates banding together in an attempt to form a Pirate Kingdom for outcasts and outlaws, and the night-time appearances of the mysterious Rain Wild folk, kinsmen of the Bingtown Traders, and it is certainly a novel which sticks in your memory long after you have finished reading it.
It is in the characters, however, where Hobb truly shines. She is surely in touch with both her masculine and feminine sides, because every single character is incredibly empathetically drawn. She has the power to put a feeling down on paper in such a way that you can feel it too. I was angry and bitter when main character Althea was cheated out of her heritage, I felt hurt and lost and slightly upset when Wintrow was coerced into obeying his father; I have known grown men who admit to crying at things Hobb has written, and that's something that can't be faked. You finish the novel knowing her characters, and even the 'baddies' like Kennit and Etta are painted in such a way that right and wrong becomes ambiguous. You understand them, and feel for them, and Hobb's talent for this is exceptional.
Overall, Ship of Magic is perhaps the best introduction into fantasy writing, even if it does overshadow every other fantasy novel you will read. This is epic writing on a grandiose scale, literary and heart-rending, intellectual and energetic. There is no other author who can so sympathetically draw you into a fully realised world of their own creation. I cannot recommend it enough. | 2 | positive | [
"This was the first fantasy novel that I read and still the best by far in terms of originality, sensitivity towards the subject matter, and all-round writing talent.",
"My fears were that it would be like all the 'traditional' fantasy that graces children's movies - goblins, magicians, magic frogs, etc.",
"- but I gave it a go and was swept into Ms.",
"Hobb's vividly conceptualised world that contained no goblins, no magicians and, believe it or not, no magic frogs whatsoever.",
"Hobb sets The Liveship Traders series in a land far to the south of the Six Duchies that were featured in her earlier Farseer series (which I also wholeheartedly recommend).",
"It principally (but not exclusively) concerns Bingtown, a trader port that is part of the Satrapy of a corrupt and negligent Jamaillia, and Divvytown, an outlaw community in the Pirate Isles.",
"The attention to realism was the first thing that grabbed me about Hobb's style; far from being an Emerald City in a Forgotten Forest, we have essentially a colony reminiscent of pre-Revolutionary America, pinned between aggressive foreign governments and an uncaring ruler, plagued by pirates, and struggling for credence and independence in a land far removed from their pre-colonial roots.",
"Bingtown itself is very well thought out, a town where the Old Traders with their Bingtown traditions are being usurped by the New Traders who have bought their way into society from the dishonest Satrap.",
"Indeed, the resistance to change of the Old Traders is highly reminiscent of the upper-crust British aristocracy of the late nineteenth century, social graces of as much importance as power and money, but infused with the aforementioned desire for autonomy.",
"The story line is contentious and moving and action-packed all at the same time, enough there to keep a mainstream action fan happy and even, perhaps, a Jane Austen enthusiast.",
"Despite its fantastical setting, it deals with strong contemporary issues such as domineering parents Hell-bent upon control, the position of women in society, Government corruption, nepotism, and many more, and still has time for a few moral debates on the concept of slavery and the ethics of fair trade.",
"Add to this an array of intelligent sea serpents questing after lost memory, pirates banding together in an attempt to form a Pirate Kingdom for outcasts and outlaws, and the night-time appearances of the mysterious Rain Wild folk, kinsmen of the Bingtown Traders, and it is certainly a novel which sticks in your memory long after you have finished reading it.",
"It is in the characters, however, where Hobb truly shines.",
"She is surely in touch with both her masculine and feminine sides, because every single character is incredibly empathetically drawn.",
"She has the power to put a feeling down on paper in such a way that you can feel it too.",
"I was angry and bitter when main character Althea was cheated out of her heritage, I felt hurt and lost and slightly upset when Wintrow was coerced into obeying his father; I have known grown men who admit to crying at things Hobb has written, and that's something that can't be faked.",
"You finish the novel knowing her characters, and even the 'baddies' like Kennit and Etta are painted in such a way that right and wrong becomes ambiguous.",
"You understand them, and feel for them, and Hobb's talent for this is exceptional.",
"Overall, Ship of Magic is perhaps the best introduction into fantasy writing, even if it does overshadow every other fantasy novel you will read.",
"This is epic writing on a grandiose scale, literary and heart-rending, intellectual and energetic.",
"There is no other author who can so sympathetically draw you into a fully realised world of their own creation.",
"I cannot recommend it enough."
] |
We use this GPS on our SeaDoo GTX, and are very satisfield with its performance out on the water. We use the default maps which came with the unit.
This product works well, but the default maps are not detailed and key roads are missing and are often mislabelled. Using this product to navigate roads would be awful. However, navigation by water is a little better. Several buoys and markers are correct and are in the expected positions on the map. The features which are the most helpful are 1) the breadcrumb trail which is automatically generated and 2) the backlight LCD screen which was a HUGE help to us on a recent trip (from Pt Judith, RI to Block Island, RI) where we got caught out at sea at dusk. This GPS allowed us to follow our earlier-marked trail, so that even though we were out on the ocean and couldn't see very far, we just followed our trail by GPS and navigated home safely. It's also easy to mark points of interest which is critical to finding your way back to the boat ramp in an unfamiliar place!
The item is totally waterproof, and for novice users (like us!), it took about 20 minutes to read through the manual and get up to speed on the key features. It is easy to mark waypoints and good for displaying speeds, time, and the direction we're headed. The item also clearly displays latitude and longitude, so if we had engine problems out on the water, i'm confident we could radio in our position from the GPS and get picked up rather easily.
I wish the screen was a little more resolute. We often have to stop the jetski to take a look at this GPS to figure out where we are and where we are headed, but it's a small price to pay for having the piece of mind out on the water. | 2 | positive | [
"We use this GPS on our SeaDoo GTX, and are very satisfield with its performance out on the water.",
"We use the default maps which came with the unit.",
"This product works well, but the default maps are not detailed and key roads are missing and are often mislabelled.",
"Using this product to navigate roads would be awful.",
"However, navigation by water is a little better.",
"Several buoys and markers are correct and are in the expected positions on the map.",
"The features which are the most helpful are 1) the breadcrumb trail which is automatically generated and 2) the backlight LCD screen which was a HUGE help to us on a recent trip (from Pt Judith, RI to Block Island, RI) where we got caught out at sea at dusk.",
"This GPS allowed us to follow our earlier-marked trail, so that even though we were out on the ocean and couldn't see very far, we just followed our trail by GPS and navigated home safely.",
"It's also easy to mark points of interest which is critical to finding your way back to the boat ramp in an unfamiliar place!",
"The item is totally waterproof, and for novice users (like us!",
"), it took about 20 minutes to read through the manual and get up to speed on the key features.",
"It is easy to mark waypoints and good for displaying speeds, time, and the direction we're headed.",
"The item also clearly displays latitude and longitude, so if we had engine problems out on the water, i'm confident we could radio in our position from the GPS and get picked up rather easily.",
"I wish the screen was a little more resolute.",
"We often have to stop the jetski to take a look at this GPS to figure out where we are and where we are headed, but it's a small price to pay for having the piece of mind out on the water."
] |
I read in an interview that the guys in Rush think that they had played out the prog-metal sci-fi epic on this one, that _Hemispheres_ is not as much as _2112_ or _A Farewell to Kings_. And they never really had an album-side-length suite after this album. Their next album, _Permanent Waves_ featured some shorter pieces (only eight odd minutes) with more fantastic themes ("Jacob's Ladder" and the euphoria-inducing "Natural Science"), but as far as songs with titles like "Cygnus X-1 Book II" that are split into five sections go, this album has the last of it. I don't really identify with what Geddy and the boys say here, because "Cygnus X-1 Book II" is as stirring as any suite they ever recorded. Maybe they were bored with the form (Geddy says they had worn it thin and that this album is one of their weakest because of this), but I don't get bored with it. The only song I don't adore on this album is the almost straight-up rocker "Circumstances." The rest of the songs are amongst my favorites.
I mean, really, has there ever been a better Socialist rock allegory than "The Trees"? No. You can quote this one to this day and impress your more socially-adept peers who were doing other things than studying Rush lyrics in their bedrooms. I mean how can it be more relevant than this?: "There is trouble in the Forest/ And the creatures all have fled/ As the Maples scream 'Oppression!'/ And the Oaks just shake their heads." And you can sing it to your peer, who was probably listening to Foghat at parties instead of being home by herself, in the same way that Geddy sings it on _Exit . . . Stage Left_. When you scream "Oppression!", you really sound impassioned, too. Down with people who say Rush are bloated. Rush is a bunch of tried-and-true Canadian pinkos who are more political than the Sex Pistols ever could have been (tho' I certainly like the Pistols's more anarchic/apathetic politics, as well).
And then the pictures of them on the sleeve. Did any band ever look more magisterial? Again, no! All of 'em in jackets, Neil with the king of all mullets and a Sir Walter Raleigh mustachio, Geddy looking like he hasn't left the studio in years (has he?). Oh a kid just used to fantasize about the wonders of technology by looking at what they play on each album. On this one, besides bass, Geddy plays "Mini-Moog, Oberheim polyphonic [and], Taurus pedals." I still don't know what an Oberheim polyphonic is; whatever it is it sounds awful freakin' thick on _Hemispheres_. The list of instruments Alex and Neil play is even longer. You don't see these kinds of instrument listings on any mainstream bands' albums any longer (considering that some of these gadgets are spendy collector's items these days, buried by less warm-sounding digital synths). That's 'cause 90% of what makes the charts these days (as opposed to 80% back then)is made by people who learned to play their instruments last year.
_Hemispheres_ also has the distinction of containing one of the best of the Rush instrumentals, if not THE best, "La Villa Strangiato." Its only rivals for instrumental nirvana in the catalog are "YYZ" on _Moving Pictures_ and "Didacts and Narpets" on _Caress of Steel_ (the latter for sheer time-warped f**d-upness). It's so much more than just a show-off session. These guys are making complex music that takes them to within an inch of their wits at all times on "Villa." No wonder Alex and Neil both had carpal tunnel operations within a decade after making this one. They had to play it live every night.
There's one main thing I have to set the record straight on here, though. This isn't their best album of any era. Of the supposed "pre-synth era" (as you see from what Geddy plays above, there is plenty of synth on this album: Alex plays some, too), this is behind both _Farewell_ and _2112_. All three of these are behind _Permanent Waves_, _Moving Pictures_, and _Signals_, supposedly part of "synth era" Rush. It's a little disingenuous to group any of these by the presence of synths, as Rush had started using them more and more as they went along after Neil joined on the second album. If you were to start the synth era anywhere, it's when _Grace Under Pressure_ came out and they overpowered Alex's guitars. Alex and Geddy's riffs are still center-stage as late as _Signals_. Really, _Hemispheres_ represents about as far as they could go with album-side suites and the second side represents the more concise and effective brilliance that was to come on _Permanent Waves_, which really is an improvement on this (still-brilliant) album.
So this is the skinny. If you don't like complex rock music with involved lyrical themes and a blazing streak of grandeur, don't buy this one. In fact, don't buy anything by Rush (of any era). Stick to their fellow Canadian Celine Dion. If you like music that is complex and feels larger-than-life, you can't do a whole lot better than this, except for a handful of other albums by Rush and their equally inspired contemporaries like ELP, Tull, VDGG, etc. This one comes real close to stacking up to the Rush albums that sold better and made the radio, like _Permanent Waves_ and _Moving Pictures_. Really, "The Trees" is just as furious and rocking, visceral and cerebral, as more well-known pieces like "Freewill" and "Tom Sawyer." Your Rush collection is so far from complete if you are missing this one. | 2 | positive | [
"I read in an interview that the guys in Rush think that they had played out the prog-metal sci-fi epic on this one, that _Hemispheres_ is not as much as _2112_ or _A Farewell to Kings_.",
"And they never really had an album-side-length suite after this album.",
"Their next album, _Permanent Waves_ featured some shorter pieces (only eight odd minutes) with more fantastic themes (\"Jacob's Ladder\" and the euphoria-inducing \"Natural Science\"), but as far as songs with titles like \"Cygnus X-1 Book II\" that are split into five sections go, this album has the last of it.",
"I don't really identify with what Geddy and the boys say here, because \"Cygnus X-1 Book II\" is as stirring as any suite they ever recorded.",
"Maybe they were bored with the form (Geddy says they had worn it thin and that this album is one of their weakest because of this), but I don't get bored with it.",
"The only song I don't adore on this album is the almost straight-up rocker \"Circumstances.",
"\" The rest of the songs are amongst my favorites.",
"I mean, really, has there ever been a better Socialist rock allegory than \"The Trees\"?",
"No.",
"You can quote this one to this day and impress your more socially-adept peers who were doing other things than studying Rush lyrics in their bedrooms.",
"I mean how can it be more relevant than this?",
": \"There is trouble in the Forest/ And the creatures all have fled/ As the Maples scream 'Oppression!",
"'/ And the Oaks just shake their heads.",
"\" And you can sing it to your peer, who was probably listening to Foghat at parties instead of being home by herself, in the same way that Geddy sings it on _Exit.",
".",
".",
"Stage Left_.",
"When you scream \"Oppression!",
"\", you really sound impassioned, too.",
"Down with people who say Rush are bloated.",
"Rush is a bunch of tried-and-true Canadian pinkos who are more political than the Sex Pistols ever could have been (tho' I certainly like the Pistols's more anarchic/apathetic politics, as well).",
"And then the pictures of them on the sleeve.",
"Did any band ever look more magisterial?",
"Again, no!",
"All of 'em in jackets, Neil with the king of all mullets and a Sir Walter Raleigh mustachio, Geddy looking like he hasn't left the studio in years (has he?",
").",
"Oh a kid just used to fantasize about the wonders of technology by looking at what they play on each album.",
"On this one, besides bass, Geddy plays \"Mini-Moog, Oberheim polyphonic [and], Taurus pedals.",
"\" I still don't know what an Oberheim polyphonic is; whatever it is it sounds awful freakin' thick on _Hemispheres_.",
"The list of instruments Alex and Neil play is even longer.",
"You don't see these kinds of instrument listings on any mainstream bands' albums any longer (considering that some of these gadgets are spendy collector's items these days, buried by less warm-sounding digital synths).",
"That's 'cause 90% of what makes the charts these days (as opposed to 80% back then)is made by people who learned to play their instruments last year.",
"_Hemispheres_ also has the distinction of containing one of the best of the Rush instrumentals, if not THE best, \"La Villa Strangiato.",
"\" Its only rivals for instrumental nirvana in the catalog are \"YYZ\" on _Moving Pictures_ and \"Didacts and Narpets\" on _Caress of Steel_ (the latter for sheer time-warped f**d-upness).",
"It's so much more than just a show-off session.",
"These guys are making complex music that takes them to within an inch of their wits at all times on \"Villa.",
"\" No wonder Alex and Neil both had carpal tunnel operations within a decade after making this one.",
"They had to play it live every night.",
"There's one main thing I have to set the record straight on here, though.",
"This isn't their best album of any era.",
"Of the supposed \"pre-synth era\" (as you see from what Geddy plays above, there is plenty of synth on this album: Alex plays some, too), this is behind both _Farewell_ and _2112_.",
"All three of these are behind _Permanent Waves_, _Moving Pictures_, and _Signals_, supposedly part of \"synth era\" Rush.",
"It's a little disingenuous to group any of these by the presence of synths, as Rush had started using them more and more as they went along after Neil joined on the second album.",
"If you were to start the synth era anywhere, it's when _Grace Under Pressure_ came out and they overpowered Alex's guitars.",
"Alex and Geddy's riffs are still center-stage as late as _Signals_.",
"Really, _Hemispheres_ represents about as far as they could go with album-side suites and the second side represents the more concise and effective brilliance that was to come on _Permanent Waves_, which really is an improvement on this (still-brilliant) album.",
"So this is the skinny.",
"If you don't like complex rock music with involved lyrical themes and a blazing streak of grandeur, don't buy this one.",
"In fact, don't buy anything by Rush (of any era).",
"Stick to their fellow Canadian Celine Dion.",
"If you like music that is complex and feels larger-than-life, you can't do a whole lot better than this, except for a handful of other albums by Rush and their equally inspired contemporaries like ELP, Tull, VDGG, etc.",
"This one comes real close to stacking up to the Rush albums that sold better and made the radio, like _Permanent Waves_ and _Moving Pictures_.",
"Really, \"The Trees\" is just as furious and rocking, visceral and cerebral, as more well-known pieces like \"Freewill\" and \"Tom Sawyer.",
"\" Your Rush collection is so far from complete if you are missing this one."
] |
"Take Me Higher" is, in my humble opinion, Diana Ross' finest studio album from the 90s. This is a fine collection of songs that has a `grown-up' feel to it. After the runaway success of "The Force Behind the Power", Ms Ross opted for a more soulful slant with this album. Ross teamed up with some of the most influential R&B producers in the business - Nick Martinelli, Narada Michael Walden, Jon John and The Boom Bros. The result? A cracking selection of songs that proved that Ms Ross could still strut her stuff.
The UK and US album selections are different - The US version contains the Brenda Russell ballad "Let Somebody Know", whereas the UK version contains the funky little ditty, "Swing It". I'd recommend that US buyers buy the UK version on import - I'll explain why later on!
The album kicks off with the percussive, high N-R-G title track, "Take Me Higher", which is a brilliant. Listen out for Patti Austin's awesome backing vocals. "If You're Not Going To Love Me Right" is a laid back R&B groove.
It's the ballads that stand out on this album and the first is the gorgeous "I Never Loved a Man Before". It has a beautiful Spanish feel to it that provided the perfect backdrop for Diana's delicate, soothing vocals.
Then we come to the UK only track, "Swing It" which has to be one of the funkiest tracks that Diana's recorded. Why wasn't it released as a single? I played this in my car and a friend was shocked to discover it was Ms Ross!
"Keep It Right Here" is the outstanding R&B track. It's sultry, laid back and easy, as is "Don't Stop". They're the kind of tracks that you listen to in the summer while driving along with the top of your car down (for those convertible owners out there!).
We then come to a couple of stellar love songs - the beautiful "Gone" and the stunning "I Thought That Were Still In Love". The latter is one of the most beautiful ballads that Diana's recorded. It's right up there with "Theme From Mahogany" and "Touch Me In the Morning". Her crystal clear diction and phrasing are awesome. The music is like an intricate tapestry that unfolds, complete with a full sweeping orchestra. The sax solo is sassy and classy, and creates a smoky jazz caf atmosphere.
There's only one track that I'm not keen on and that's "Voice of the Heart". It's one of those slushy `listen to your heart and it will guide you' songs that Diana seems to be susceptible to singing. There's one on every album, I suppose!
"Only Love Can Conquer All" is a superb ballad that deals with a sensitive issue. It opens with the line:
"They tell us it's better that people should stay with their own kind..."
There's nothing clichd about this track - indeed, with mixed-raced kids (a melting pot of African American, half Jewish and half Norwegian) Diana surely knew what she was singing about. Her delivery here is full of conviction. This is like a modern day version of "Reach Out and Touch".
The album rounds off with "I Will Survive" - resurrected and revamped for the 90s, complete with a rousing, stomping chorus. Diana looks gorgeous in the video for this track!
So there you have it - a fine album that I'd recommend again and again. It was an instant hit in the UK, where it went straight into the Top Ten album charts, and spawned 3 Top 40 hits, and certified Gold. I'm not sure why it didn't do so well in the US, but it doesn't really matter, as the album speaks for itself. | 2 | positive | [
"\"Take Me Higher\" is, in my humble opinion, Diana Ross' finest studio album from the 90s.",
"This is a fine collection of songs that has a `grown-up' feel to it.",
"After the runaway success of \"The Force Behind the Power\", Ms Ross opted for a more soulful slant with this album.",
"Ross teamed up with some of the most influential R&B producers in the business - Nick Martinelli, Narada Michael Walden, Jon John and The Boom Bros.",
"The result?",
"A cracking selection of songs that proved that Ms Ross could still strut her stuff.",
"The UK and US album selections are different - The US version contains the Brenda Russell ballad \"Let Somebody Know\", whereas the UK version contains the funky little ditty, \"Swing It\".",
"I'd recommend that US buyers buy the UK version on import - I'll explain why later on!",
"The album kicks off with the percussive, high N-R-G title track, \"Take Me Higher\", which is a brilliant.",
"Listen out for Patti Austin's awesome backing vocals.",
"\"If You're Not Going To Love Me Right\" is a laid back R&B groove.",
"It's the ballads that stand out on this album and the first is the gorgeous \"I Never Loved a Man Before\".",
"It has a beautiful Spanish feel to it that provided the perfect backdrop for Diana's delicate, soothing vocals.",
"Then we come to the UK only track, \"Swing It\" which has to be one of the funkiest tracks that Diana's recorded.",
"Why wasn't it released as a single?",
"I played this in my car and a friend was shocked to discover it was Ms Ross!",
"\"Keep It Right Here\" is the outstanding R&B track.",
"It's sultry, laid back and easy, as is \"Don't Stop\".",
"They're the kind of tracks that you listen to in the summer while driving along with the top of your car down (for those convertible owners out there!",
").",
"We then come to a couple of stellar love songs - the beautiful \"Gone\" and the stunning \"I Thought That Were Still In Love\".",
"The latter is one of the most beautiful ballads that Diana's recorded.",
"It's right up there with \"Theme From Mahogany\" and \"Touch Me In the Morning\".",
"Her crystal clear diction and phrasing are awesome.",
"The music is like an intricate tapestry that unfolds, complete with a full sweeping orchestra.",
"The sax solo is sassy and classy, and creates a smoky jazz caf atmosphere.",
"There's only one track that I'm not keen on and that's \"Voice of the Heart\".",
"It's one of those slushy `listen to your heart and it will guide you' songs that Diana seems to be susceptible to singing.",
"There's one on every album, I suppose!",
"\"Only Love Can Conquer All\" is a superb ballad that deals with a sensitive issue.",
"It opens with the line:\n\"They tell us it's better that people should stay with their own kind...",
"\"\nThere's nothing clichd about this track - indeed, with mixed-raced kids (a melting pot of African American, half Jewish and half Norwegian) Diana surely knew what she was singing about.",
"Her delivery here is full of conviction.",
"This is like a modern day version of \"Reach Out and Touch\".",
"The album rounds off with \"I Will Survive\" - resurrected and revamped for the 90s, complete with a rousing, stomping chorus.",
"Diana looks gorgeous in the video for this track!",
"So there you have it - a fine album that I'd recommend again and again.",
"It was an instant hit in the UK, where it went straight into the Top Ten album charts, and spawned 3 Top 40 hits, and certified Gold.",
"I'm not sure why it didn't do so well in the US, but it doesn't really matter, as the album speaks for itself."
] |
With their <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Eldorado/dp/B005F9TQAG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Eldorado</a> album Electric Light Orchestra had officially laid the groundwork for a musical sound that was going to far outlive the band itself. Though they were likely too busy to know it at that particular point. Already beginning to set up quite a reputation as a live. Not only that but the bands rhythm section of drummer Bev Bevan and keyboardist Richard Tandy were becoming an ever more important part of the bands dynamic aside from what Jeff Lynne did as a songwriter/producer/arranger. As if the previous album hadn't been a big deal ELO were geared up in 1975 for an album that would make their sound even more concise for listeners. Not to mention perhaps a little more radio friendly. A difficult balance but on every level this album made it work for them.
"Fire On High" is a beautiful open-ably blending Lynne's trademark cinematic string arrangements with the strong emphasis on the rhythm section of Bevan building them up from the bottom and Tandy's keyboard effects creating this textural blend of melody and harmonic dynamics. "Waterfall" is another wonderful ELO ballad,very melodic and well crafted as always. "Evil Woman" of course was the breakout hit-a danceable and rather soulful clavinet driven pop number and one of my personal favorite ELO hits."Nightrider" might be one of the definitive ELO numbers musically. Its got the gleaming keyboards playing wonderfully descending melodies-produced in Lynne's futurist fashion with his rangy and often angelic lead vocals. "Poker" is a very interested song: fast hard,almost proto punkish guitar rock at the base yet had a very progressively orchestrated chorus. "Strange Magic",another hit here starts out a gentle ballad but builds into this powerfully orchestrated and sweeping chorus.
"Down Home Town" introduces a Southern American/Country-Western flavor into their sound while "One Summer Dream" again ends the album with another of their beautiful cinematic ballads. The ELO that most people associate with their 70's hit period develops into full swing here. Every one of their albums,even in their bit hit period was never afraid to explore unique methods of expressing what the band had to say. But as time went on for ELO they learned to do so while maintaining a very identifiable core sound. While not a rock opera styled concept album that one would likely associate with Jeff Lynne,at least not in the traditional sense,this album helped establish ELO has a unique and important pop phenomenon that could continually push the boundaries of its own talents. | 2 | positive | [
"With their <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Eldorado/dp/B005F9TQAG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Eldorado</a> album Electric Light Orchestra had officially laid the groundwork for a musical sound that was going to far outlive the band itself.",
"Though they were likely too busy to know it at that particular point.",
"Already beginning to set up quite a reputation as a live.",
"Not only that but the bands rhythm section of drummer Bev Bevan and keyboardist Richard Tandy were becoming an ever more important part of the bands dynamic aside from what Jeff Lynne did as a songwriter/producer/arranger.",
"As if the previous album hadn't been a big deal ELO were geared up in 1975 for an album that would make their sound even more concise for listeners.",
"Not to mention perhaps a little more radio friendly.",
"A difficult balance but on every level this album made it work for them.",
"\"Fire On High\" is a beautiful open-ably blending Lynne's trademark cinematic string arrangements with the strong emphasis on the rhythm section of Bevan building them up from the bottom and Tandy's keyboard effects creating this textural blend of melody and harmonic dynamics.",
"\"Waterfall\" is another wonderful ELO ballad,very melodic and well crafted as always.",
"\"Evil Woman\" of course was the breakout hit-a danceable and rather soulful clavinet driven pop number and one of my personal favorite ELO hits.",
"\"Nightrider\" might be one of the definitive ELO numbers musically.",
"Its got the gleaming keyboards playing wonderfully descending melodies-produced in Lynne's futurist fashion with his rangy and often angelic lead vocals.",
"\"Poker\" is a very interested song: fast hard,almost proto punkish guitar rock at the base yet had a very progressively orchestrated chorus.",
"\"Strange Magic\",another hit here starts out a gentle ballad but builds into this powerfully orchestrated and sweeping chorus.",
"\"Down Home Town\" introduces a Southern American/Country-Western flavor into their sound while \"One Summer Dream\" again ends the album with another of their beautiful cinematic ballads.",
"The ELO that most people associate with their 70's hit period develops into full swing here.",
"Every one of their albums,even in their bit hit period was never afraid to explore unique methods of expressing what the band had to say.",
"But as time went on for ELO they learned to do so while maintaining a very identifiable core sound.",
"While not a rock opera styled concept album that one would likely associate with Jeff Lynne,at least not in the traditional sense,this album helped establish ELO has a unique and important pop phenomenon that could continually push the boundaries of its own talents."
] |
I don't like to drink a lot of coffee, just a cup or two a day. I was having a hard time getting the amount of water/coffee grounds right in a 12-cup maker to ensure taste of coffee and quantity. Basically I would end up making too much coffee or the taste was too strong/not strong enough. I find this coffee maker perfect for me...
Pros:
- Has a non-disposable permanent filter, easy to clean and you don't have to drop $$$ on packs of filters.
- Comes with everything you need, just add coffee/water and brew.
- Automatic shutoff, I don't have to remember to turn it off, less of a fire risk.
- Comes with insulated 16 ounce mug, perfect size for what I need.
Cons:
- Short AC cable. If I had to guess I'd say about 2 ft. I understand most don't want a long cable because its a counter-top appliance, but I have one at work and its hard to reach a plug under the table with such a short cable.
Be aware this DOES NOT have a warming/heating plate. You don't really need one for a 16ounce portion (Most will drink it pretty quickly) but just be aware of this. If you use the mug that comes with it I've noticed with the lid on it stays pretty darn hot for 30-45 minutes. I bought this one for the office, I have another one at the house that I use Sat/Sun Mornings, that maker has been going strong now for 3-4 months, so it seems pretty reliable. For 20 bucks I'll be happy with a year out of it and will be sure to buy an exact replacement when the time comes, it's just a perfect little coffee maker for what I need/want. | 2 | positive | [
"I don't like to drink a lot of coffee, just a cup or two a day.",
"I was having a hard time getting the amount of water/coffee grounds right in a 12-cup maker to ensure taste of coffee and quantity.",
"Basically I would end up making too much coffee or the taste was too strong/not strong enough.",
"I find this coffee maker perfect for me...",
"Pros:\n- Has a non-disposable permanent filter, easy to clean and you don't have to drop $$$ on packs of filters.",
"- Comes with everything you need, just add coffee/water and brew.",
"- Automatic shutoff, I don't have to remember to turn it off, less of a fire risk.",
"- Comes with insulated 16 ounce mug, perfect size for what I need.",
"Cons:\n- Short AC cable.",
"If I had to guess I'd say about 2 ft.",
"I understand most don't want a long cable because its a counter-top appliance, but I have one at work and its hard to reach a plug under the table with such a short cable.",
"Be aware this DOES NOT have a warming/heating plate.",
"You don't really need one for a 16ounce portion (Most will drink it pretty quickly) but just be aware of this.",
"If you use the mug that comes with it I've noticed with the lid on it stays pretty darn hot for 30-45 minutes.",
"I bought this one for the office, I have another one at the house that I use Sat/Sun Mornings, that maker has been going strong now for 3-4 months, so it seems pretty reliable.",
"For 20 bucks I'll be happy with a year out of it and will be sure to buy an exact replacement when the time comes, it's just a perfect little coffee maker for what I need/want."
] |
.... For anyone who hasn't played this game and is looking for a good role-playing or adventure game, I can highly recommend this game. There is little I can say that previous reviewers have not already covered, but Planescape is an excellent example of what a role-playing game should be. Even though the graphics are no longer on the cutting edge, the game itself easily stands the test of time.
Planescape: Torment represents a fantastic creative achievement, with a strange and twisted land that has been painstakingly fleshed-out for gamers to explore. The game world features an astonishing number of areas to explore. It is also very flexible -- there are many ways to accomplish tasks, from using force to smooth talking to magic means. You can choose to be evil, cruel, or callous. Perhaps you'd rather be benevolent, helpful, even generous. Unlike most role-playing games, you don't have a fixed class and you do not choose your own alignment. Your actions determine your alignment over time, and you can change your class at will. The result is a very rare game that gives gamers a real opportunity to role play, one where characters react to you based on what you've done in the past. And the story itself is absolutely compelling and fascinating, a story so complicated that one playing will not be enough to reveal all its subtleties.
This game is not as well-known as Black Isle's more popular Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, but it may actually be the best of the bunch. It should easily run on all but the very slowest computers. I can go on and on about how good this game is... how good the voice acting is, making the characters seem even more life-like... how original the game world is... but you should find out for yourself. If you're a fan of role-playing games, you should not miss Planescape: Torment. | 2 | positive | [
"....",
"For anyone who hasn't played this game and is looking for a good role-playing or adventure game, I can highly recommend this game.",
"There is little I can say that previous reviewers have not already covered, but Planescape is an excellent example of what a role-playing game should be.",
"Even though the graphics are no longer on the cutting edge, the game itself easily stands the test of time.",
"Planescape: Torment represents a fantastic creative achievement, with a strange and twisted land that has been painstakingly fleshed-out for gamers to explore.",
"The game world features an astonishing number of areas to explore.",
"It is also very flexible -- there are many ways to accomplish tasks, from using force to smooth talking to magic means.",
"You can choose to be evil, cruel, or callous.",
"Perhaps you'd rather be benevolent, helpful, even generous.",
"Unlike most role-playing games, you don't have a fixed class and you do not choose your own alignment.",
"Your actions determine your alignment over time, and you can change your class at will.",
"The result is a very rare game that gives gamers a real opportunity to role play, one where characters react to you based on what you've done in the past.",
"And the story itself is absolutely compelling and fascinating, a story so complicated that one playing will not be enough to reveal all its subtleties.",
"This game is not as well-known as Black Isle's more popular Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, but it may actually be the best of the bunch.",
"It should easily run on all but the very slowest computers.",
"I can go on and on about how good this game is...",
"how good the voice acting is, making the characters seem even more life-like...",
"how original the game world is...",
"but you should find out for yourself.",
"If you're a fan of role-playing games, you should not miss Planescape: Torment."
] |
Knowing how far video games have come in the past few years, it is easy to forget the classics. "Shadowgate" is considered by many to be one of the best and most innovative RPGs of it's time, and is still a hot item amongst older gamers (like me) to this day.
You are an adventurer who is on a quest to stop the evil Warlock Lord, who has the power to destroy humanity. So you enter Castle Shadowgate in order to seek out the Warlok Lord and end his reign. Of coarse, nothing come easy. You encounter dangerous beasts, ghosts, and if you fail, death himself. You also have to solve mind-bending puzzles, which is the main appeal of this game. You have to rely more on your brains and wits rather than your sword. The game is quite difficult the first time through, and will definitely keep you busy for a few days at least. But there in lies the big flaw in "Shadowgate". There is no replay value. Once you have beaten the game, you know all the secrets and can easily breeze through the second time around. I beat this game in two weeks, but the second time I beat it in less than 45 minutes. But considering the age of this game, it is not a huge downer. It is still a fun trip down memory lane.
In terms of graphics, they are great by NES standards. The colors and textures add depth to any given situation, while the music also compliments the mood. Since this is an old-school RPG, the emphasis is more on story and puzzles rather than action and fighting.
For games who want to experience games from their childhood, or see where games like "Final Fantasy" came from, you should check out "Shadowgate". | 2 | positive | [
"Knowing how far video games have come in the past few years, it is easy to forget the classics.",
"\"Shadowgate\" is considered by many to be one of the best and most innovative RPGs of it's time, and is still a hot item amongst older gamers (like me) to this day.",
"You are an adventurer who is on a quest to stop the evil Warlock Lord, who has the power to destroy humanity.",
"So you enter Castle Shadowgate in order to seek out the Warlok Lord and end his reign.",
"Of coarse, nothing come easy.",
"You encounter dangerous beasts, ghosts, and if you fail, death himself.",
"You also have to solve mind-bending puzzles, which is the main appeal of this game.",
"You have to rely more on your brains and wits rather than your sword.",
"The game is quite difficult the first time through, and will definitely keep you busy for a few days at least.",
"But there in lies the big flaw in \"Shadowgate\".",
"There is no replay value.",
"Once you have beaten the game, you know all the secrets and can easily breeze through the second time around.",
"I beat this game in two weeks, but the second time I beat it in less than 45 minutes.",
"But considering the age of this game, it is not a huge downer.",
"It is still a fun trip down memory lane.",
"In terms of graphics, they are great by NES standards.",
"The colors and textures add depth to any given situation, while the music also compliments the mood.",
"Since this is an old-school RPG, the emphasis is more on story and puzzles rather than action and fighting.",
"For games who want to experience games from their childhood, or see where games like \"Final Fantasy\" came from, you should check out \"Shadowgate\"."
] |
The two popular string quartets from Dvorak and Borodin are among the easiest to listen to in the genre, romanticism for every ear. Because of the hummable tunes in the Borodin 2nd (lifted wholesale to become part of the Broadway musical, Kismet) and the folksy vigor of Dvorak's "American" Quartet #12, most performers emphasize their lushness. Not the Emersons, whose readings are clean and streamlined. They don't dig deep into the wood the way the Alban Berg Qt. does. Their is the patented Emerson virtuosity at work, however, with impeccable intonation and matched timbres.
For me, the effect is refreshing, particularly in the Borodin, which gets a performance that never threatens to become gooey. The Dvorak is a mite too efficient and far removed from its folk inspiration, yet it is impressive technically. Its buoyancy creates a great deal of enjoyment. I've never been able to warm up to Tchaikovsky's quartet writing, but here again the Emersons go for clean lines over Russian luxuriousness.
In all, a very appealing CD that groups three favorites in vintage Emerson Qt. performances. Very good sound, too. | 2 | positive | [
"The two popular string quartets from Dvorak and Borodin are among the easiest to listen to in the genre, romanticism for every ear.",
"Because of the hummable tunes in the Borodin 2nd (lifted wholesale to become part of the Broadway musical, Kismet) and the folksy vigor of Dvorak's \"American\" Quartet #12, most performers emphasize their lushness.",
"Not the Emersons, whose readings are clean and streamlined.",
"They don't dig deep into the wood the way the Alban Berg Qt.",
"does.",
"Their is the patented Emerson virtuosity at work, however, with impeccable intonation and matched timbres.",
"For me, the effect is refreshing, particularly in the Borodin, which gets a performance that never threatens to become gooey.",
"The Dvorak is a mite too efficient and far removed from its folk inspiration, yet it is impressive technically.",
"Its buoyancy creates a great deal of enjoyment.",
"I've never been able to warm up to Tchaikovsky's quartet writing, but here again the Emersons go for clean lines over Russian luxuriousness.",
"In all, a very appealing CD that groups three favorites in vintage Emerson Qt.",
"performances.",
"Very good sound, too."
] |
This has got to be the most terrorfying horror movie I have ever seen. I would have enjoyed this alot more if I was alot younger like at age 8 or 9 because when your at that age you get to be scared when watching a horror movie but now that im grown up and an adult you don't enjoy a horror flick such as this in the same perspective as you was when a child. I do remember watching this when I was little but I don't remember that much but I do remember being so scared I couldent sleep in my bed for a week. Any ways back to the movie. I gave it 5 stars because I realy see no flaws in this exept for when the little boy billy is supposed to be dead but if you look at him in the back ground you can see him blinking,and I also thought it was a little weird when pumpkin head climbs up on top of the house and the tree,now I cant picture somthing that big and clumbsy climbing up a tree. Aside from those two things I didint see any other flaws. The acting of the charecters are great and there personalitys have lots of depth such as Ed Harly. It is also very heart breaking to see that cute little boy die and you feel very sorry for Ed after words because of the great loving relationship between him and his son. Believe it or not but there was a few city folks in the movie that I was rooting for pumpkin head to kill like the one guy who hit the kid with his motor cycle(you could tell that the bast*** didint care when he hit him but just about himself)and his girl friend because I just couldent stand the way she acted and also the guy who was the brother of the guy who hit the little kid just mainly for the fact he was helping his carless brother but the rest of them I liked and wanted them to make it through alive. The monster is great and it goes good with the back woods seen. I recomend this movie to anyone who loves those original horror movies that don't just come around every day. Rated R for strong langeuge and gory violence. | 2 | positive | [
"This has got to be the most terrorfying horror movie I have ever seen.",
"I would have enjoyed this alot more if I was alot younger like at age 8 or 9 because when your at that age you get to be scared when watching a horror movie but now that im grown up and an adult you don't enjoy a horror flick such as this in the same perspective as you was when a child.",
"I do remember watching this when I was little but I don't remember that much but I do remember being so scared I couldent sleep in my bed for a week.",
"Any ways back to the movie.",
"I gave it 5 stars because I realy see no flaws in this exept for when the little boy billy is supposed to be dead but if you look at him in the back ground you can see him blinking,and I also thought it was a little weird when pumpkin head climbs up on top of the house and the tree,now I cant picture somthing that big and clumbsy climbing up a tree.",
"Aside from those two things I didint see any other flaws.",
"The acting of the charecters are great and there personalitys have lots of depth such as Ed Harly.",
"It is also very heart breaking to see that cute little boy die and you feel very sorry for Ed after words because of the great loving relationship between him and his son.",
"Believe it or not but there was a few city folks in the movie that I was rooting for pumpkin head to kill like the one guy who hit the kid with his motor cycle(you could tell that the bast*** didint care when he hit him but just about himself)and his girl friend because I just couldent stand the way she acted and also the guy who was the brother of the guy who hit the little kid just mainly for the fact he was helping his carless brother but the rest of them I liked and wanted them to make it through alive.",
"The monster is great and it goes good with the back woods seen.",
"I recomend this movie to anyone who loves those original horror movies that don't just come around every day.",
"Rated R for strong langeuge and gory violence."
] |
I had to wait for high winds and rain to give this umbrella a work out. This product is 6 stars in my book. It never flinches when it comes to wind. The 48" size was smaller than I thought, but that proved to be a good thing. In high wind this thing becomes a sail. I was in a 40mph wind and I had to position the thing so I did not end up flying off the ground like Mary Poppins. This product is great as a walking stick as well. James Bond would likely find it useful as a personal safety weapon as well.
Over the years I bought $10 big umbrellas only to have them turn inside out in high wind. This thing is well worth the money. | 2 | positive | [
"I had to wait for high winds and rain to give this umbrella a work out.",
"This product is 6 stars in my book.",
"It never flinches when it comes to wind.",
"The 48\" size was smaller than I thought, but that proved to be a good thing.",
"In high wind this thing becomes a sail.",
"I was in a 40mph wind and I had to position the thing so I did not end up flying off the ground like Mary Poppins.",
"This product is great as a walking stick as well.",
"James Bond would likely find it useful as a personal safety weapon as well.",
"Over the years I bought $10 big umbrellas only to have them turn inside out in high wind.",
"This thing is well worth the money."
] |
We had owned this in VHS and thought we ultimately got rid of all our VHS tapes, I decided to get this in DVD {ya still behind in technology... don't have blu ray or whatever else is out there, but hell I don't have a smartphone and use a landline phone and that suits me just fine...}
If you like Fleetwood Mac and the music they made, this is a really good video. I'm not a fan of the one song TUSK ~ marching band music has no appeal for me, but hey that's me... The rest of the video is just classic Fleetwood Mac ~ GREAT! These musicians had lost NONE of their abilities and the music and singing is just classic Fleetwood Mac as far as I'm concerned. I have an old 32" Flat screen TV with just the speakers that came with it, no 5.1 dolby or a soundbar or any of that stuff, and it sounded wonderful to me. . Enjoy this one if you like F.Mac. | 2 | positive | [
"We had owned this in VHS and thought we ultimately got rid of all our VHS tapes, I decided to get this in DVD {ya still behind in technology...",
"don't have blu ray or whatever else is out there, but hell I don't have a smartphone and use a landline phone and that suits me just fine...",
"}\nIf you like Fleetwood Mac and the music they made, this is a really good video.",
"I'm not a fan of the one song TUSK ~ marching band music has no appeal for me, but hey that's me...",
"The rest of the video is just classic Fleetwood Mac ~ GREAT!",
"These musicians had lost NONE of their abilities and the music and singing is just classic Fleetwood Mac as far as I'm concerned.",
"I have an old 32\" Flat screen TV with just the speakers that came with it, no 5.",
"1 dolby or a soundbar or any of that stuff, and it sounded wonderful to me.",
".",
"Enjoy this one if you like F.",
"Mac."
] |
After using a standard floor jack for transmission work and having more problems than I could ever think about, I decided to try the tool that was made for the job. The Torin jack filled the bill completely. Although the cradle is more suited to automatics, I devised a cradle out of wood that would fit the standard. I used ratchet straps to secure it rather than the chains that came with the jack, just couldn't figure out how they could possibly work. The only con was that the tilt adjustment was very dificult to use -- it needed more leverage than the small plastic knob could provide. That was solved by using a socket wrench on the other end of the shaft. Like most things made off shore, all the fasteners are metric. This jack just made the job 100% easier. Would hartily reccomend this tool to anyone doing transmission work. Would have been 5 stars had the tilt adjustment been easier to use. | 2 | positive | [
"After using a standard floor jack for transmission work and having more problems than I could ever think about, I decided to try the tool that was made for the job.",
"The Torin jack filled the bill completely.",
"Although the cradle is more suited to automatics, I devised a cradle out of wood that would fit the standard.",
"I used ratchet straps to secure it rather than the chains that came with the jack, just couldn't figure out how they could possibly work.",
"The only con was that the tilt adjustment was very dificult to use -- it needed more leverage than the small plastic knob could provide.",
"That was solved by using a socket wrench on the other end of the shaft.",
"Like most things made off shore, all the fasteners are metric.",
"This jack just made the job 100% easier.",
"Would hartily reccomend this tool to anyone doing transmission work.",
"Would have been 5 stars had the tilt adjustment been easier to use."
] |
This CD is filled with a hint of Celtic magic. Loreena's voice takes you away
as She is an extraordinary bard of the Old Ways. Some of my facorite selections are
1. The Highwayman
A great poem put to Her musical style. You feel the anticipation as you travel
with the music that builds onto itself. A masterpiece, being rediscovered by a new
form of communication. A musical treat for the ears & mind.
2. The Mummer's dance
A mystical song that can take you away into the other world
3. Dante's prayer
A song of love, longing and wanting to be remembered.
There are many other songs on this CD that are touching and beautiful.
A great gift, or a present to your soul. | 2 | positive | [
"This CD is filled with a hint of Celtic magic.",
"Loreena's voice takes you away\nas She is an extraordinary bard of the Old Ways.",
"Some of my facorite selections are\n1.",
"The Highwayman\n A great poem put to Her musical style.",
"You feel the anticipation as you travel\nwith the music that builds onto itself.",
"A masterpiece, being rediscovered by a new\nform of communication.",
"A musical treat for the ears & mind.",
"2.",
"The Mummer's dance\n A mystical song that can take you away into the other world\n3.",
"Dante's prayer\n A song of love, longing and wanting to be remembered.",
"There are many other songs on this CD that are touching and beautiful.",
"A great gift, or a present to your soul."
] |
"They all crossed into forbidden territory. They all tampered with the laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much."
This quote, more than anything I could write, tells the reader what they will find on the pages of this hauntingly tragic novel. I could tell you the plot points, and I will, but nothing I say will better describe The God of Small Things then those few words.
There is an innocence to childhood. Usually that innocence fades slowly, shed as the child grows into first adolescence and then into adulthood. Other times that innocence is ripped away, quick and painful - this is what happened to fraternal twins, Rahel and Estha. Their childhood was a lonely one, growing up in the southernmost province of India, the tip that juts into the sea. Their mother was divorced, bringing shame to her family. Their father was a violent drunkard, whom they knew nothing about, outside of a picture in which they clung to him, their mothering hovering just outside the frame to catch them should he suddenly drop them. The rest of the household was made up of their vitriolic grandaunt (who once loved a priest and nurtured her disappointment like a venomous snake), their communist Oxford-educated uncle (also divorced, but his of course bringing no shame), their blind grandmother (who delivered all her wifely baggage to her son's care the day stopped his father from killing her), and the ghost of their grandfather (also trapped in disappointment and anger, though his was came from a moth with unusually dense dorsal tufts). There was another. An Untouchable. A man who had obtained an unusual importance within the family circle. Unthinkable. Echos of this allowance would be felt Later. Lay Ter.
This novel is beautiful, haunting, tragic. It is the story of childhood lost, it is the story of love, it is the story of death. The story unwinds slowly, with a deep sense of foreboding, the author leaving hints of what is to come. Despite the almost painfully slow telling of the story, the way it meanders back in forth in time, it is never plodding. The author, recreating language as it suits her, as she needs to, strings you along, inviting you to keep reading, to find out lies within the book's Heart of Darkness. Dark of Heartness. I was captivated from the very first page, and even though the author leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for you to follow, even though you know what is going to happen, in the end, when it does, you're still not prepared. | 2 | positive | [
"\"They all crossed into forbidden territory.",
"They all tampered with the laws that lay down who should be loved and how.",
"And how much.",
"\"\n\nThis quote, more than anything I could write, tells the reader what they will find on the pages of this hauntingly tragic novel.",
"I could tell you the plot points, and I will, but nothing I say will better describe The God of Small Things then those few words.",
"There is an innocence to childhood.",
"Usually that innocence fades slowly, shed as the child grows into first adolescence and then into adulthood.",
"Other times that innocence is ripped away, quick and painful - this is what happened to fraternal twins, Rahel and Estha.",
"Their childhood was a lonely one, growing up in the southernmost province of India, the tip that juts into the sea.",
"Their mother was divorced, bringing shame to her family.",
"Their father was a violent drunkard, whom they knew nothing about, outside of a picture in which they clung to him, their mothering hovering just outside the frame to catch them should he suddenly drop them.",
"The rest of the household was made up of their vitriolic grandaunt (who once loved a priest and nurtured her disappointment like a venomous snake), their communist Oxford-educated uncle (also divorced, but his of course bringing no shame), their blind grandmother (who delivered all her wifely baggage to her son's care the day stopped his father from killing her), and the ghost of their grandfather (also trapped in disappointment and anger, though his was came from a moth with unusually dense dorsal tufts).",
"There was another.",
"An Untouchable.",
"A man who had obtained an unusual importance within the family circle.",
"Unthinkable.",
"Echos of this allowance would be felt Later.",
"Lay Ter.",
"This novel is beautiful, haunting, tragic.",
"It is the story of childhood lost, it is the story of love, it is the story of death.",
"The story unwinds slowly, with a deep sense of foreboding, the author leaving hints of what is to come.",
"Despite the almost painfully slow telling of the story, the way it meanders back in forth in time, it is never plodding.",
"The author, recreating language as it suits her, as she needs to, strings you along, inviting you to keep reading, to find out lies within the book's Heart of Darkness.",
"Dark of Heartness.",
"I was captivated from the very first page, and even though the author leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for you to follow, even though you know what is going to happen, in the end, when it does, you're still not prepared."
] |
The module works exactly as expected. No issues with drivers (Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit) after following the included instructions. Recording works well with Audacity. I fiddled with the included software a little, but it was more complicated than I needed.
I have been very impressed by the performance of this module. A few grad student friends and I have a band that practices every week, and we wanted to record our practices with better quality than just putting a USB microphone in the middle of the room, so I ordered this because of the price. It only has two channels, but since we weren't trying to record anything professionally, we just ran a single feed from a larger mixer into this module. After adjusting levels, the recordings sound excellent using Audacity with this module.
As some others have pointed out, the construction is not heavy duty, so you may want to keep it in the box or in a padded case. It probably can't withstand a beating. But since we use it in a stationary position each week, I haven't had any issues with this. | 2 | positive | [
"The module works exactly as expected.",
"No issues with drivers (Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit) after following the included instructions.",
"Recording works well with Audacity.",
"I fiddled with the included software a little, but it was more complicated than I needed.",
"I have been very impressed by the performance of this module.",
"A few grad student friends and I have a band that practices every week, and we wanted to record our practices with better quality than just putting a USB microphone in the middle of the room, so I ordered this because of the price.",
"It only has two channels, but since we weren't trying to record anything professionally, we just ran a single feed from a larger mixer into this module.",
"After adjusting levels, the recordings sound excellent using Audacity with this module.",
"As some others have pointed out, the construction is not heavy duty, so you may want to keep it in the box or in a padded case.",
"It probably can't withstand a beating.",
"But since we use it in a stationary position each week, I haven't had any issues with this."
] |
Installation. If you have Vista, the CD requires that you download the software; for other platforms, you can choose installation by CD or download. I have installed it to XP computers using the download version. I would welcome full CD-based installation for all platforms since that's what I would do for a computer that I suspected was infected.
After the full download, the installer checks for incompatible programs, which you must uninstall before continuing. Most of these, such as rival virus software, will require rebooting in the middle of the McAfee installation. This worked but it seems inefficient to me: why not run a software check before downloading the full program?
Operation. Boot time with this software is quicker than the rival program I had been using. This differs from the experience of some other users who have reviewed the product.
I've been using it for about a month, and I have no evidence of viruses or spyware, so it seems to work. I didn't test it by trying to infect it. I use Firefox as my browser and web-based email through a university with a very good spam filter built in, so my exposure is different than, say, a Hotmail+Internet Explorer user. | 2 | positive | [
"Installation.",
"If you have Vista, the CD requires that you download the software; for other platforms, you can choose installation by CD or download.",
"I have installed it to XP computers using the download version.",
"I would welcome full CD-based installation for all platforms since that's what I would do for a computer that I suspected was infected.",
"After the full download, the installer checks for incompatible programs, which you must uninstall before continuing.",
"Most of these, such as rival virus software, will require rebooting in the middle of the McAfee installation.",
"This worked but it seems inefficient to me: why not run a software check before downloading the full program?",
"Operation.",
"Boot time with this software is quicker than the rival program I had been using.",
"This differs from the experience of some other users who have reviewed the product.",
"I've been using it for about a month, and I have no evidence of viruses or spyware, so it seems to work.",
"I didn't test it by trying to infect it.",
"I use Firefox as my browser and web-based email through a university with a very good spam filter built in, so my exposure is different than, say, a Hotmail+Internet Explorer user."
] |
By 1980, Billy Joel had established himself as both a commercial and creative success in the pop music industry. Billy's previous two albums "The Stranger" and "52th Street" basically defined his own style of music by incorporating two main themes. These themes are: 1) An "Old New York" style of music that can best be described as a street-sounding jazz sound; 2) A Melting Pot Theme - a mix of various cultural themes (Latin, Italian, etc). While for the most part, the piano would remain a core to Billy Joel's music, these albums would also incorporate guitar and horns. For his seventh album, "Glass Houses" - Billy would change gears and clearly move more toward a Rock direction. Billy isn't going to try to imitate others doing a Rock album - he is going to do it his own way by incorporating different styles to get a Rock album product. Once again Billy finds a winning formula with this terrific collection.
I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases. The first phase is what I call "Old Billy Joel". This basically includes all of his material from "Cold Spring Harbor" through "Turnstiles". These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material. The next phase is what I call "Middle Billy Joel". This was his most successful period and covers from "The Stranger" to "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2". Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues. The final phase is the "Later Billy Joel" phase - this covers "The Bridge" to "River of Dreams". In this phase, Billy would start to incorporate some of his older styles of music while not abandoning his desire to continue to explore new avenues. The Rock direction that Billy takes on "Glass Houses" definitely falls into the "Middle Billy Joel" phase as Billy clearly demonstrates the desire to explore some new musical horizons.
Much of what is the theme for the sound on "Glass Houses" can best be described in the song "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". Although this isn't one of my favorite tracks on the album - the well-known lyrics really reflect a lot of what Billy is going to accomplish on this collection. Lines such as "Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk" and "next phase, new wave, dance craze anyways"...."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". I think Billy uses this song to justify that he is incorporating many different types of sounds with the ultimate goal of creating a Rock album. "Glass Houses" isn't just a New Wave influenced collection - there are influences of Classic Rock, The Beatles, and even Billy's own style.
Here are a review of the other songs:
"You May Be Right": This song opens with a rock being thrown through a glass window. The theme of this song deals with a reckless individual and the music compliments this theme perfectly. This song is going to be a strong dose of guitars and horns, thus establishing the Rock presence early on. Billy doesn't completely abandon his New York roots by mentioning "Bedford Stuy".
"Sometimes a Fantasy": This song continues the outstanding guitar work by David Brown and Russell Javors. This isn't meant to pass judgement on the song - but one should note that this song does deal with having a suggestive-like conversation on the phone.
"Don't Ask Me Why": On "The Stranger" and "52th Street", Billy had songs that had a Latin style. Songs like "Rosalinda's Eyes" had a clear Latin flavor while " Just the Way You Are" and "She's Always a Woman" had some acoustic Latin guitar sounds. This is the Latin sounding song on "Glass Houses". This may be the strongest track on the album - despite not being a Rock song. There is a terrific balance between the piano and guitars in this song.
"All for Leyna": Another very strong song. This song features some strong piano and the end result is a very "Classic Rock" sounding song. The piano sound almost is "piano duel" style. In this song Billy paints a picture of himself being troubled in a relationship in which the woman has basically used him.
"I Don't Want to My Alone": This seems to be a forgotten Billy song. This song has a lot to offer. It almost sounds like a cross between Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson in terms of the style of the music - giving it a very light punk element. Once again Billy hasn't forgotten his New York roots with the reference to "The Plaza Hotel".
"Sleeping with the Television On": This is another underrated song. It's fair to say this song has a New Wave influence. Billy's style works perfectly again. Good harmonies in this song.
"C'etait Toi (You Were the One)": This is a softer song. Billy has always claimed he was influenced by The Beatles. This song reminds me of Billy's version of The Beatles "Michelle" with the combination of English and French lyrics.
"Close to the Borderline": I found this song almost to have a "Southern Rock" edge to it. Even with this sound, Billy doesn't forget New York with references "The West Side" and "Beekman Place".
"Through the Long Night": Another softer song. There is a nice piano element in this song. This is another song with a Beatles feel to it - this is evidenced by both the harmonies and the melodies.
The enhanced CD features music videos for "Sometimes a Fantasy", "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me",and "All for Leyna". All of the lyrics are included to each of the tacks as well as musician and production credits. Overall, Billy proves he can do something different than he did on "The Stranger" and "52th Street". The end product is outstanding and this is a collection that is highly recommended. | 2 | positive | [
"By 1980, Billy Joel had established himself as both a commercial and creative success in the pop music industry.",
"Billy's previous two albums \"The Stranger\" and \"52th Street\" basically defined his own style of music by incorporating two main themes.",
"These themes are: 1) An \"Old New York\" style of music that can best be described as a street-sounding jazz sound; 2) A Melting Pot Theme - a mix of various cultural themes (Latin, Italian, etc).",
"While for the most part, the piano would remain a core to Billy Joel's music, these albums would also incorporate guitar and horns.",
"For his seventh album, \"Glass Houses\" - Billy would change gears and clearly move more toward a Rock direction.",
"Billy isn't going to try to imitate others doing a Rock album - he is going to do it his own way by incorporating different styles to get a Rock album product.",
"Once again Billy finds a winning formula with this terrific collection.",
"I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases.",
"The first phase is what I call \"Old Billy Joel\".",
"This basically includes all of his material from \"Cold Spring Harbor\" through \"Turnstiles\".",
"These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material.",
"The next phase is what I call \"Middle Billy Joel\".",
"This was his most successful period and covers from \"The Stranger\" to \"Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2\".",
"Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues.",
"The final phase is the \"Later Billy Joel\" phase - this covers \"The Bridge\" to \"River of Dreams\".",
"In this phase, Billy would start to incorporate some of his older styles of music while not abandoning his desire to continue to explore new avenues.",
"The Rock direction that Billy takes on \"Glass Houses\" definitely falls into the \"Middle Billy Joel\" phase as Billy clearly demonstrates the desire to explore some new musical horizons.",
"Much of what is the theme for the sound on \"Glass Houses\" can best be described in the song \"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me\".",
"Although this isn't one of my favorite tracks on the album - the well-known lyrics really reflect a lot of what Billy is going to accomplish on this collection.",
"Lines such as \"Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk\" and \"next phase, new wave, dance craze anyways\"....",
"\"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me\".",
"I think Billy uses this song to justify that he is incorporating many different types of sounds with the ultimate goal of creating a Rock album.",
"\"Glass Houses\" isn't just a New Wave influenced collection - there are influences of Classic Rock, The Beatles, and even Billy's own style.",
"Here are a review of the other songs:\n\n\"You May Be Right\": This song opens with a rock being thrown through a glass window.",
"The theme of this song deals with a reckless individual and the music compliments this theme perfectly.",
"This song is going to be a strong dose of guitars and horns, thus establishing the Rock presence early on.",
"Billy doesn't completely abandon his New York roots by mentioning \"Bedford Stuy\".",
"\"Sometimes a Fantasy\": This song continues the outstanding guitar work by David Brown and Russell Javors.",
"This isn't meant to pass judgement on the song - but one should note that this song does deal with having a suggestive-like conversation on the phone.",
"\"Don't Ask Me Why\": On \"The Stranger\" and \"52th Street\", Billy had songs that had a Latin style.",
"Songs like \"Rosalinda's Eyes\" had a clear Latin flavor while \" Just the Way You Are\" and \"She's Always a Woman\" had some acoustic Latin guitar sounds.",
"This is the Latin sounding song on \"Glass Houses\".",
"This may be the strongest track on the album - despite not being a Rock song.",
"There is a terrific balance between the piano and guitars in this song.",
"\"All for Leyna\": Another very strong song.",
"This song features some strong piano and the end result is a very \"Classic Rock\" sounding song.",
"The piano sound almost is \"piano duel\" style.",
"In this song Billy paints a picture of himself being troubled in a relationship in which the woman has basically used him.",
"\"I Don't Want to My Alone\": This seems to be a forgotten Billy song.",
"This song has a lot to offer.",
"It almost sounds like a cross between Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson in terms of the style of the music - giving it a very light punk element.",
"Once again Billy hasn't forgotten his New York roots with the reference to \"The Plaza Hotel\".",
"\"Sleeping with the Television On\": This is another underrated song.",
"It's fair to say this song has a New Wave influence.",
"Billy's style works perfectly again.",
"Good harmonies in this song.",
"\"C'etait Toi (You Were the One)\": This is a softer song.",
"Billy has always claimed he was influenced by The Beatles.",
"This song reminds me of Billy's version of The Beatles \"Michelle\" with the combination of English and French lyrics.",
"\"Close to the Borderline\": I found this song almost to have a \"Southern Rock\" edge to it.",
"Even with this sound, Billy doesn't forget New York with references \"The West Side\" and \"Beekman Place\".",
"\"Through the Long Night\": Another softer song.",
"There is a nice piano element in this song.",
"This is another song with a Beatles feel to it - this is evidenced by both the harmonies and the melodies.",
"The enhanced CD features music videos for \"Sometimes a Fantasy\", \"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me\",and \"All for Leyna\".",
"All of the lyrics are included to each of the tacks as well as musician and production credits.",
"Overall, Billy proves he can do something different than he did on \"The Stranger\" and \"52th Street\".",
"The end product is outstanding and this is a collection that is highly recommended."
] |
This was another one of those games which I had no interest in, but downloaded the demo and ended up buying. I thought the demo was pretty fun, and my son loved it. This game is definitely geared towards kids, so if you're an adult and you're not a Star Wars fan, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you're a kid and/or a Star Wars fan, I'd suggest downloading the demo and giving it a shot.
The game allows you to play several missions based in Episodes I, II, and III. Most of the missions are ground-based, with a few vehicle-based missions in the mix. The graphics are surprisingly effective, and the gameplay is simple -- not always too easy, but easy enough for young children. There's also a "Free Play" mode in which you can replay any level you've completed, using any of the characters you've unlocked. And there are a large number of characters available for you to gain through the collection of Lego "studs" (the little, flat, round pieces, which act as coins in the game). Each character has a unique ability, be it use of the Force (which can manipulate Lego pieces to construct objects), or the ability to travel through air vents or use grapling hooks. Replaying the levels in Free Play mode allows other secrets to be unlocked, providing a good amount of replay value.
It's not for everyone, but if you're even mildly interested, I'd recommend trying the demo -- you just might like it. | 2 | positive | [
"This was another one of those games which I had no interest in, but downloaded the demo and ended up buying.",
"I thought the demo was pretty fun, and my son loved it.",
"This game is definitely geared towards kids, so if you're an adult and you're not a Star Wars fan, I wouldn't recommend it.",
"But if you're a kid and/or a Star Wars fan, I'd suggest downloading the demo and giving it a shot.",
"The game allows you to play several missions based in Episodes I, II, and III.",
"Most of the missions are ground-based, with a few vehicle-based missions in the mix.",
"The graphics are surprisingly effective, and the gameplay is simple -- not always too easy, but easy enough for young children.",
"There's also a \"Free Play\" mode in which you can replay any level you've completed, using any of the characters you've unlocked.",
"And there are a large number of characters available for you to gain through the collection of Lego \"studs\" (the little, flat, round pieces, which act as coins in the game).",
"Each character has a unique ability, be it use of the Force (which can manipulate Lego pieces to construct objects), or the ability to travel through air vents or use grapling hooks.",
"Replaying the levels in Free Play mode allows other secrets to be unlocked, providing a good amount of replay value.",
"It's not for everyone, but if you're even mildly interested, I'd recommend trying the demo -- you just might like it."
] |
This album is OUTSTANDING. Why in the hell are we not hearing more about these guys???!!!! Terry Kath Chicago fans UNITE! CTA is the REAL deal, and the new songs fit well and show this group has fantastic potential. With all the hubbub about the latest release of Chicago's "lost" Stone of Sisyphus, I think I'm going to puke. The reviews for SOS all sound like old fans trying to convince themselves that SOS is the best since the Terry Kath days and that they should be excited and happy. It might be best, but it is still a gigantic cry from that early magic. Chicago since Terry Kath's passing and even the "transitional" Hot Streets album is a completely different band and should have changed their name. All the blues and grit from the early days has continued to be replaced with slick production, synthesizers, and seriously stripped down guitar. California Transit Authority DOES have that early magic, and I hope and pray they can continue to create and perform. The WORD must get out. And before you get the idea these guys are just an old Chicago cover band, forget it! They add their own spice and the new songs show they are every bit as inovative and appealing. Be prepared to be blown away.
It is truly tragic that Pankow, Loughnane, Parazaider, and Lamm are not a part of Danny's new adventure. The songs are polished, the sound is GREAT, and, if they are honest with themselves, as musicians (with any personality conflicts set aside), I would imagine they would be crying inside not having been part of this wonderful project.
When I first heard that the brass sound on the tracks was done on keyboard, I thought it would sound nothing but cheesy. NO WAY. No way at all. In fact, when I listen to the tracks, I cannot tell the difference except on 25 or 6 to 4 which, I believe, was done live. I can easily imagine that Pankow, Loughnane, and Parazaider made the studio sessions in secret, but due to contractual obligations, they are not credited. Wouldn't that be a gas?! Anyway, time will tell if the band can pull off some new tunes that equal or surpass Pankow's inovative big brass sound.
The new musicans really, really cook!!! Marc Bonilla is fantastic find. Though no one can replace Kath, Bonilla has his own magic and the playing is phenomenal. He definitely HAS the down and dirty blues. Larry Braggs from Tower of Power is a perfect fit for the group. All the other musicans are just great, and they play tight.
One more comment. I already knew that Danny was a rock drum genius, but this album makes it painfully clear he was an extremely essential ingredient to the early Chicago sound.
If you like the Terry Kath Chicago, this is an absolute must buy. RIGHT NOW! | 2 | positive | [
"This album is OUTSTANDING.",
"Why in the hell are we not hearing more about these guys???",
"!!!!",
"Terry Kath Chicago fans UNITE!",
"CTA is the REAL deal, and the new songs fit well and show this group has fantastic potential.",
"With all the hubbub about the latest release of Chicago's \"lost\" Stone of Sisyphus, I think I'm going to puke.",
"The reviews for SOS all sound like old fans trying to convince themselves that SOS is the best since the Terry Kath days and that they should be excited and happy.",
"It might be best, but it is still a gigantic cry from that early magic.",
"Chicago since Terry Kath's passing and even the \"transitional\" Hot Streets album is a completely different band and should have changed their name.",
"All the blues and grit from the early days has continued to be replaced with slick production, synthesizers, and seriously stripped down guitar.",
"California Transit Authority DOES have that early magic, and I hope and pray they can continue to create and perform.",
"The WORD must get out.",
"And before you get the idea these guys are just an old Chicago cover band, forget it!",
"They add their own spice and the new songs show they are every bit as inovative and appealing.",
"Be prepared to be blown away.",
"It is truly tragic that Pankow, Loughnane, Parazaider, and Lamm are not a part of Danny's new adventure.",
"The songs are polished, the sound is GREAT, and, if they are honest with themselves, as musicians (with any personality conflicts set aside), I would imagine they would be crying inside not having been part of this wonderful project.",
"When I first heard that the brass sound on the tracks was done on keyboard, I thought it would sound nothing but cheesy.",
"NO WAY.",
"No way at all.",
"In fact, when I listen to the tracks, I cannot tell the difference except on 25 or 6 to 4 which, I believe, was done live.",
"I can easily imagine that Pankow, Loughnane, and Parazaider made the studio sessions in secret, but due to contractual obligations, they are not credited.",
"Wouldn't that be a gas?!",
"Anyway, time will tell if the band can pull off some new tunes that equal or surpass Pankow's inovative big brass sound.",
"The new musicans really, really cook!!!",
"Marc Bonilla is fantastic find.",
"Though no one can replace Kath, Bonilla has his own magic and the playing is phenomenal.",
"He definitely HAS the down and dirty blues.",
"Larry Braggs from Tower of Power is a perfect fit for the group.",
"All the other musicans are just great, and they play tight.",
"One more comment.",
"I already knew that Danny was a rock drum genius, but this album makes it painfully clear he was an extremely essential ingredient to the early Chicago sound.",
"If you like the Terry Kath Chicago, this is an absolute must buy.",
"RIGHT NOW!"
] |
Old Yeller is required viewing for anyone whose ever cherished a family pet. Bring Kleenex and prepare for a heart-warming, life-affirming, coming-of-age classic with the incomparable Tommy Kirk giving us a very fine performance as that big 'yeller' dog's human counterpart. The quality of this Blu-ray easily advances over the old 2-disc Vault Disney DVD. Solid colors, general sharpness, a light smattering of film grain looking very natural and accurate contrast levels. Occasional built-in flicker does not distract. A few scenes exhibit less than stellar color and slight fading. Overall, you won't be disappointed. Unacceptable - Disney Inc.'s decision to jettison virtually all of the extras that came with the aforementioned DVD set. Dumb marketing decision. Really dumb!!! So, best advice - buy this Blu-ray for the vastly improved image quality. But keep your old Vault Disney set for the extras. Buy with confidence. Treasure forever. Did I mention? Bring Kleenex! | 2 | positive | [
"Old Yeller is required viewing for anyone whose ever cherished a family pet.",
"Bring Kleenex and prepare for a heart-warming, life-affirming, coming-of-age classic with the incomparable Tommy Kirk giving us a very fine performance as that big 'yeller' dog's human counterpart.",
"The quality of this Blu-ray easily advances over the old 2-disc Vault Disney DVD.",
"Solid colors, general sharpness, a light smattering of film grain looking very natural and accurate contrast levels.",
"Occasional built-in flicker does not distract.",
"A few scenes exhibit less than stellar color and slight fading.",
"Overall, you won't be disappointed.",
"Unacceptable - Disney Inc.",
"'s decision to jettison virtually all of the extras that came with the aforementioned DVD set.",
"Dumb marketing decision.",
"Really dumb!!!",
"So, best advice - buy this Blu-ray for the vastly improved image quality.",
"But keep your old Vault Disney set for the extras.",
"Buy with confidence.",
"Treasure forever.",
"Did I mention?",
"Bring Kleenex!"
] |
A Just Deception Review
The second book in Adrienne Giordano's Personal Protectors series is every bit as good as the first...and I loved Man Law.
Peter "Monk" Jessup is an overachiever in the fix-everyone-else's-problems department. He recently lost a close friend as well as a teammate, and, even though he couldn't have prevented their deaths, he's at odds with himself, angry and unable to process the deep grief tying him up in knots.
Isabelle DeRosa is a lawyer who's overcome being sexually abused by her cousin as a young girl. She's learned to compartmentalize sex and shut down her emotions when it comes to relationships. She never lets anyone get too close and she's taken defense lessons in order to feel safe in any all situations.
The two meet and instantly have a connection, both recognizing the other's past issues, and how it's affecting them in the present. Their sexual chemistry is great, but it's their emotional chemistry that reeled me in and kept me reading far past my bedtime. I literally devoured this book over two days, so afraid Monk would give up on Izzy with all her hangups since she kept pushing him away, then drawing him back, only to push him away again.
All the while, I understood her pain, the extremes she was willing to go to in order to save other girls from being abused. She was such a courageous character, I rooted for her from beginning to end. When they finally both lowered their guards and accepted their own faults as well as each other's, I teared up and cheered out loud.
Beautifully written and full of fast-paced action, as well as characters who will tug at your heart strings, A Just Deception is an incredible second book in the Personal Protectors series. | 2 | positive | [
"A Just Deception Review\n\nThe second book in Adrienne Giordano's Personal Protectors series is every bit as good as the first...",
"and I loved Man Law.",
"Peter \"Monk\" Jessup is an overachiever in the fix-everyone-else's-problems department.",
"He recently lost a close friend as well as a teammate, and, even though he couldn't have prevented their deaths, he's at odds with himself, angry and unable to process the deep grief tying him up in knots.",
"Isabelle DeRosa is a lawyer who's overcome being sexually abused by her cousin as a young girl.",
"She's learned to compartmentalize sex and shut down her emotions when it comes to relationships.",
"She never lets anyone get too close and she's taken defense lessons in order to feel safe in any all situations.",
"The two meet and instantly have a connection, both recognizing the other's past issues, and how it's affecting them in the present.",
"Their sexual chemistry is great, but it's their emotional chemistry that reeled me in and kept me reading far past my bedtime.",
"I literally devoured this book over two days, so afraid Monk would give up on Izzy with all her hangups since she kept pushing him away, then drawing him back, only to push him away again.",
"All the while, I understood her pain, the extremes she was willing to go to in order to save other girls from being abused.",
"She was such a courageous character, I rooted for her from beginning to end.",
"When they finally both lowered their guards and accepted their own faults as well as each other's, I teared up and cheered out loud.",
"Beautifully written and full of fast-paced action, as well as characters who will tug at your heart strings, A Just Deception is an incredible second book in the Personal Protectors series."
] |
Titanic is an epic movie that has something everyone can enjoy or at least find interesting. If your not busy gazing at the special affects and beautiful majestery of the ship, then your being captivated by the performances by Kate and that one guy. (totally overrated performances though). I loved one review where someone mentioned Leonardo DiCrapio? Haha. I was dissapointed in the fact Kathy Bates didn't have a bigger part. The music is also moving.
The ridiculous part of the movie is the gun fight at the end. Give me a damned break, you mean to tell me if a ship is sinking, some fool is gonna pull out a pistol and start shooting into a crowd of drowning passengers? Yeah right, I don't think so! All and all, it was a compelling drama with that great Celine song forever linked to the movie. | 2 | positive | [
"Titanic is an epic movie that has something everyone can enjoy or at least find interesting.",
"If your not busy gazing at the special affects and beautiful majestery of the ship, then your being captivated by the performances by Kate and that one guy.",
"(totally overrated performances though).",
"I loved one review where someone mentioned Leonardo DiCrapio?",
"Haha.",
"I was dissapointed in the fact Kathy Bates didn't have a bigger part.",
"The music is also moving.",
"The ridiculous part of the movie is the gun fight at the end.",
"Give me a damned break, you mean to tell me if a ship is sinking, some fool is gonna pull out a pistol and start shooting into a crowd of drowning passengers?",
"Yeah right, I don't think so!",
"All and all, it was a compelling drama with that great Celine song forever linked to the movie."
] |
Great product! Don't know how I ever cooked and lived without this. Temps display pretty fast and accurate to 1/10th of a degree. Nice easy display to read. When not in use the probe slides back into it's holster so it doesn't scratch or get damaged. It's the right price and highly recommended!
UPDATE - Thermometer broke after 1 yr using it. Tried changing the battery without success to get it working again. Therefore I bought another brand at a local Bed Bath and Beyond. So you might want to reconsider purchasing this thermometer. | 2 | positive | [
"Great product!",
"Don't know how I ever cooked and lived without this.",
"Temps display pretty fast and accurate to 1/10th of a degree.",
"Nice easy display to read.",
"When not in use the probe slides back into it's holster so it doesn't scratch or get damaged.",
"It's the right price and highly recommended!",
"UPDATE - Thermometer broke after 1 yr using it.",
"Tried changing the battery without success to get it working again.",
"Therefore I bought another brand at a local Bed Bath and Beyond.",
"So you might want to reconsider purchasing this thermometer."
] |
This is an excellent live album. It is about 50 minutes long.
The translation from LP to CD is nearly perfect. Almost too perfect. There are some audio defects in the recording, such as a high pitched whine during the bass solo on Who Do You Love. They weren't that noticible on the LP, being hidden under the other defects you get with vinyl. Now, with the crystal clear sound of a CD, these audio defects are more pronounced and stand out more.
It starts out with a 25 minute, high energy version of Who Do You Love. There are numerous innovative guitar and bass guitar solos throughout. It also contains rare tongue clicking and handbone solos. If I have one complaint about the this track, it is the middle section with the drum and audience solos. They are fun and interesting. But, they are something that you like to listen only once in awhile. Sometimes you just want to get down and boogie to the guitar solos.
The second half (side 2 of the LP) is a suite of 3 songs that were actually recorded in 3 different places. They are edited together to make a seamless set. Mona is a powerful blues number, Maiden of the Cancer Moon is a nice guitar solo and Calvary is some very spacy guitar. It ends with a studio version of Happy Trails, written by Dale Evans, wife of Roy Rogers and used as Roy Rogers theme song.
Who Do You Love and Mona were written by Bo Diddley (Ellis McDaniels). He was one of the pioneering blues/rock cross over artists. There must be hundreds of versions of Who Do You Love. Quicksilver's and the Door's are my favorites.
If you like this album, you should check out the Welsh group, Man. They have a similar sound. Quicksilver guitarist, John Chipollina worked with Man at one time. When Chipollina died, Man wrote Sons of Mercury in his honor. Deke Leonard, Man's guitartist said, why does it have it to the good ones, why couldn't have been Phil Collins instead. Man albums to check out include Back To the Future, 1999 Tour Part and Live at the Rainbow. | 2 | positive | [
"This is an excellent live album.",
"It is about 50 minutes long.",
"The translation from LP to CD is nearly perfect.",
"Almost too perfect.",
"There are some audio defects in the recording, such as a high pitched whine during the bass solo on Who Do You Love.",
"They weren't that noticible on the LP, being hidden under the other defects you get with vinyl.",
"Now, with the crystal clear sound of a CD, these audio defects are more pronounced and stand out more.",
"It starts out with a 25 minute, high energy version of Who Do You Love.",
"There are numerous innovative guitar and bass guitar solos throughout.",
"It also contains rare tongue clicking and handbone solos.",
"If I have one complaint about the this track, it is the middle section with the drum and audience solos.",
"They are fun and interesting.",
"But, they are something that you like to listen only once in awhile.",
"Sometimes you just want to get down and boogie to the guitar solos.",
"The second half (side 2 of the LP) is a suite of 3 songs that were actually recorded in 3 different places.",
"They are edited together to make a seamless set.",
"Mona is a powerful blues number, Maiden of the Cancer Moon is a nice guitar solo and Calvary is some very spacy guitar.",
"It ends with a studio version of Happy Trails, written by Dale Evans, wife of Roy Rogers and used as Roy Rogers theme song.",
"Who Do You Love and Mona were written by Bo Diddley (Ellis McDaniels).",
"He was one of the pioneering blues/rock cross over artists.",
"There must be hundreds of versions of Who Do You Love.",
"Quicksilver's and the Door's are my favorites.",
"If you like this album, you should check out the Welsh group, Man.",
"They have a similar sound.",
"Quicksilver guitarist, John Chipollina worked with Man at one time.",
"When Chipollina died, Man wrote Sons of Mercury in his honor.",
"Deke Leonard, Man's guitartist said, why does it have it to the good ones, why couldn't have been Phil Collins instead.",
"Man albums to check out include Back To the Future, 1999 Tour Part and Live at the Rainbow."
] |
Genevive (Catherine Denevue) and her mother (Anne Vernon) live above their shop called The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Genevive is in love with Guy (Nino Castelnuovo), a young auto mechanic with dark hair and a dazzling smile. The two date secretly and plan their future together; finally Genevive's mother finds out about her boyfriend. She is unimpressed and warns her of the dangers of young love. Fortunately for her, Guy recieves his draft notice and will be away for two years. After a tearful goodbye, Guy reluctantly leaves with the promise of Genevive's hand when he returns. As the weeks go by, Genevive becomes pale and weak. Her stomach begins to expand, revealing Guy's child growing inside. Her mother insists that Genevive marry the jewelry merchant from America (Marc Michel) that has taken a liking to the young blonde, but Genevive is reluctant to give up her romance for stability. As times goes by, though, and the separation gets harder, the temptation of wealth gets stronger.
Umbrellas of Cherbourg is completely sung; there is no spoken dialogue like in a traditional musical. It might take some getting used to, but it is worth sitting through. Visually, this is a stunning film. All of the sets are bright and cheerful and are well coordinated to the seasons and moods. In spite of the colorful sets and costumes, this movie is quite depressing. Do not expect that everything will be wrapped up neatly in the end with an extravagant musical number to finish it all off. It is haunting and memorable, a lovely film. | 2 | positive | [
"Genevive (Catherine Denevue) and her mother (Anne Vernon) live above their shop called The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.",
"Genevive is in love with Guy (Nino Castelnuovo), a young auto mechanic with dark hair and a dazzling smile.",
"The two date secretly and plan their future together; finally Genevive's mother finds out about her boyfriend.",
"She is unimpressed and warns her of the dangers of young love.",
"Fortunately for her, Guy recieves his draft notice and will be away for two years.",
"After a tearful goodbye, Guy reluctantly leaves with the promise of Genevive's hand when he returns.",
"As the weeks go by, Genevive becomes pale and weak.",
"Her stomach begins to expand, revealing Guy's child growing inside.",
"Her mother insists that Genevive marry the jewelry merchant from America (Marc Michel) that has taken a liking to the young blonde, but Genevive is reluctant to give up her romance for stability.",
"As times goes by, though, and the separation gets harder, the temptation of wealth gets stronger.",
"Umbrellas of Cherbourg is completely sung; there is no spoken dialogue like in a traditional musical.",
"It might take some getting used to, but it is worth sitting through.",
"Visually, this is a stunning film.",
"All of the sets are bright and cheerful and are well coordinated to the seasons and moods.",
"In spite of the colorful sets and costumes, this movie is quite depressing.",
"Do not expect that everything will be wrapped up neatly in the end with an extravagant musical number to finish it all off.",
"It is haunting and memorable, a lovely film."
] |
Mr. Stanley is correct in one--and only one--respect: Get Happy!!! is NOT R&B.
It is a fantastic approximation, and a perfect imitation. Sleeping through this album, with all due respect to other reviewers, is simply not possible.
Elvis has said he was writing some of the lyrics for this album as the Attractions were laying down their tracks in adjoining studios. Either he's fibbing or he's even more of a genious than I already suspect. Lyrically (sp?) witty, musically groovin', a bass/drum/horn section that pounds without plodding--I simply cannot say enough about Get Happy!!!. I consider it one of the 20 or so best albums of the Rock era.
The fact that Elvis, who had been considered kind of a runty, quirky annoyance by a lot of critics since his sophomore LP was released, could put together this album--and the accompaning tour, which was closer to the TAMI Show than the typical punk rockers he was so often compared to--is, to me, one of the miracles of the age.
I'd love to pick out individual tracks and explain why I love this LP so much but, frankly, I don't know where to start. "I Stand Accused," with it's "I-S-T-A-N-D-A-C-C-U-S-E-D!" finale? The heartache of "Hi Fidelity," an ominous prelude to Elvis' later flirtation with C&W? "Riot Act," the ultimate finger pointer?
I dunno. I lose all pretense of articulation when it comes to this great, great album. Buy it early, buy it often. | 2 | positive | [
"Mr.",
"Stanley is correct in one--and only one--respect: Get Happy!!!",
"is NOT R&B.",
"It is a fantastic approximation, and a perfect imitation.",
"Sleeping through this album, with all due respect to other reviewers, is simply not possible.",
"Elvis has said he was writing some of the lyrics for this album as the Attractions were laying down their tracks in adjoining studios.",
"Either he's fibbing or he's even more of a genious than I already suspect.",
"Lyrically (sp?",
") witty, musically groovin', a bass/drum/horn section that pounds without plodding--I simply cannot say enough about Get Happy!!!",
".",
"I consider it one of the 20 or so best albums of the Rock era.",
"The fact that Elvis, who had been considered kind of a runty, quirky annoyance by a lot of critics since his sophomore LP was released, could put together this album--and the accompaning tour, which was closer to the TAMI Show than the typical punk rockers he was so often compared to--is, to me, one of the miracles of the age.",
"I'd love to pick out individual tracks and explain why I love this LP so much but, frankly, I don't know where to start.",
"\"I Stand Accused,\" with it's \"I-S-T-A-N-D-A-C-C-U-S-E-D!",
"\" finale?",
"The heartache of \"Hi Fidelity,\" an ominous prelude to Elvis' later flirtation with C&W?",
"\"Riot Act,\" the ultimate finger pointer?",
"I dunno.",
"I lose all pretense of articulation when it comes to this great, great album.",
"Buy it early, buy it often."
] |
This is a re-issue of a previous release by the Criterion Collection but features a brand new transfer of the film, which looks fantastic. All of the previous extra material has been carried over.
There is an audio commentary by filmmaker Al Reinert and astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the Moon. Reinert provides some insight into how the film came together. He went through thousands of hours of footage and managed to put together an 80-minute film. Cernan shares some of his experiences about what it was like to be an astronaut at that time.
New to this edition is "An Accidental Gift: The Making of For All Mankind," a 30-minute retrospective documentary. Reinert always wanted to see this outer space/Moon footage on the big screen and this was the impetus for the film. He got his start as a journalist covering NASA in the early 1980s. Through his contacts he got access to their film archives and found footage that had never been shown. This is an excellent look at how For All Mankind came together.
Also new is "On Camera," a compilation of on-camera interviews Reinert conducted with 15 of the Apollo astronauts. In the film itself only the audio is used and it is nice to put a face to the voice.
"Painting from the Moon" is an updating of an extra on the original edition. After retiring from NASA, astronaut Alan Bean became a painter and this is a gallery of his work with commentary.
"NASA Audio Highlights" is a collection of 21 soundbites from the first ten years of the American space program. Some of the most famous words have spoken during this time, including Neil Armstrong's immortal words.
Finally, there is "3, 2, 1 . . . Blast Off!" a collection of launch footage of various rockets taking off for outer space. | 2 | positive | [
"This is a re-issue of a previous release by the Criterion Collection but features a brand new transfer of the film, which looks fantastic.",
"All of the previous extra material has been carried over.",
"There is an audio commentary by filmmaker Al Reinert and astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to set foot on the Moon.",
"Reinert provides some insight into how the film came together.",
"He went through thousands of hours of footage and managed to put together an 80-minute film.",
"Cernan shares some of his experiences about what it was like to be an astronaut at that time.",
"New to this edition is \"An Accidental Gift: The Making of For All Mankind,\" a 30-minute retrospective documentary.",
"Reinert always wanted to see this outer space/Moon footage on the big screen and this was the impetus for the film.",
"He got his start as a journalist covering NASA in the early 1980s.",
"Through his contacts he got access to their film archives and found footage that had never been shown.",
"This is an excellent look at how For All Mankind came together.",
"Also new is \"On Camera,\" a compilation of on-camera interviews Reinert conducted with 15 of the Apollo astronauts.",
"In the film itself only the audio is used and it is nice to put a face to the voice.",
"\"Painting from the Moon\" is an updating of an extra on the original edition.",
"After retiring from NASA, astronaut Alan Bean became a painter and this is a gallery of his work with commentary.",
"\"NASA Audio Highlights\" is a collection of 21 soundbites from the first ten years of the American space program.",
"Some of the most famous words have spoken during this time, including Neil Armstrong's immortal words.",
"Finally, there is \"3, 2, 1.",
".",
".",
"Blast Off!",
"\" a collection of launch footage of various rockets taking off for outer space."
] |
A wonderful book. I am recommending the hardcover version. For as much as I go back to it, I wouldn't be happy with the softcover version. I was given a copy to peruse thirty years ago and soon picked up my own copy. I go back to it every year or so. It is truly a book of sections (176 pages, 34 chapters), so it is very easy to open it anywhere and read. I recall that at least one of Larkin's numerical calculations was unsound, which detracts not a bit from the book. Written in 1918--thirty years prior to Israel's national rebirth--subsequent history has confirmed Mr. Larkin's plain and unvarnished reading of the Bible. This book dispatches the pretensions of reconstructionism, triumphalism, amillennialism, and the idea that the church has replaced Israel, an idea that makes out God and His Old Testament prophets--and Paul--to be liars. It dispatches these pretensions by simply teaching what the Bible says. False teachers allegorize and spiritualize the Word of God, and this appeals to the vanity of not a few believers and to all mere professors of faith in Christ. Mr. Larkin, by contrast, simply said what the Bible says. His advantage over legions of "theologians" and "scholars" was not intellect, but faith. | 2 | positive | [
"A wonderful book.",
"I am recommending the hardcover version.",
"For as much as I go back to it, I wouldn't be happy with the softcover version.",
"I was given a copy to peruse thirty years ago and soon picked up my own copy.",
"I go back to it every year or so.",
"It is truly a book of sections (176 pages, 34 chapters), so it is very easy to open it anywhere and read.",
"I recall that at least one of Larkin's numerical calculations was unsound, which detracts not a bit from the book.",
"Written in 1918--thirty years prior to Israel's national rebirth--subsequent history has confirmed Mr.",
"Larkin's plain and unvarnished reading of the Bible.",
"This book dispatches the pretensions of reconstructionism, triumphalism, amillennialism, and the idea that the church has replaced Israel, an idea that makes out God and His Old Testament prophets--and Paul--to be liars.",
"It dispatches these pretensions by simply teaching what the Bible says.",
"False teachers allegorize and spiritualize the Word of God, and this appeals to the vanity of not a few believers and to all mere professors of faith in Christ.",
"Mr.",
"Larkin, by contrast, simply said what the Bible says.",
"His advantage over legions of \"theologians\" and \"scholars\" was not intellect, but faith."
] |
With a highly competent cast led by Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Skeritt, "Contact" tells a version of the "first contact" story which so fascinates devotees of science fiction and fantasy. The movie won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in SF.
We see in this film, some of the reasons why Foster is often regarded as one of the most gifted actors of her generation. Her intelligence, presence and emotional range in this story are truly exceptional. It is easy to see why she has twice been nominated for Academy Awards and twice more received the award as "Best Actress".
One of the plot devices used here may make us smile even as we wonder how the producers managed to do it. We encounter what appears to be story dialog involving several very public figures, including a US President. The visual effects are also stunning, both in the desert of western America and in the spaces between galaxies.
The story itself is a bit long at two hours and 30 minutes, but it manages to keep us engaged the entire time. We see acted out here, themes familiar from other science fiction -- particularly the deep conflict between belief founded upon scriptural faith versus the search for truth founded on science and observation. Perhaps especially in 2017, a revisit of these themes may be timely.
This movie is quite profoundly worth seeing. | 2 | positive | [
"With a highly competent cast led by Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Skeritt, \"Contact\" tells a version of the \"first contact\" story which so fascinates devotees of science fiction and fantasy.",
"The movie won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in SF.",
"We see in this film, some of the reasons why Foster is often regarded as one of the most gifted actors of her generation.",
"Her intelligence, presence and emotional range in this story are truly exceptional.",
"It is easy to see why she has twice been nominated for Academy Awards and twice more received the award as \"Best Actress\".",
"One of the plot devices used here may make us smile even as we wonder how the producers managed to do it.",
"We encounter what appears to be story dialog involving several very public figures, including a US President.",
"The visual effects are also stunning, both in the desert of western America and in the spaces between galaxies.",
"The story itself is a bit long at two hours and 30 minutes, but it manages to keep us engaged the entire time.",
"We see acted out here, themes familiar from other science fiction -- particularly the deep conflict between belief founded upon scriptural faith versus the search for truth founded on science and observation.",
"Perhaps especially in 2017, a revisit of these themes may be timely.",
"This movie is quite profoundly worth seeing."
] |
Having been a Y&T fan since 1981, like many of you, I saw the progression from the hard rock metal sound of the first 4 A&M releases to a more polished and commercial sound, as found on Contagious. Regardless of the stylistic change found on this cd, this is one seriously great disc! As good as the the first 4 Y&T releases are, I am glad they shifted gears a bit. Who wants a band to make the same album several times (not that ANY of their albums sound the same)? Not me!
There are some high class rock songs (Fight For Your Life, Armed & Dangerous, Eyes Of A Stranger....actually, I really like the entire cd, with the exception of 'The Kid Goes Crazy'). The production is really good, the band are tight, Dave's voice and guitar playing are in amazing form (check out the solos on 'Fight', 'A&D', 'Eyes' and the AMAZINGLY soulful instrumental 'I'll Cry'...it does not get much better than this!), Jimmy's drumming is great, the songs are excellent. What more can you ask for? Do yourself a favor and check this cd out. | 2 | positive | [
"Having been a Y&T fan since 1981, like many of you, I saw the progression from the hard rock metal sound of the first 4 A&M releases to a more polished and commercial sound, as found on Contagious.",
"Regardless of the stylistic change found on this cd, this is one seriously great disc!",
"As good as the the first 4 Y&T releases are, I am glad they shifted gears a bit.",
"Who wants a band to make the same album several times (not that ANY of their albums sound the same)?",
"Not me!",
"There are some high class rock songs (Fight For Your Life, Armed & Dangerous, Eyes Of A Stranger....",
"actually, I really like the entire cd, with the exception of 'The Kid Goes Crazy').",
"The production is really good, the band are tight, Dave's voice and guitar playing are in amazing form (check out the solos on 'Fight', 'A&D', 'Eyes' and the AMAZINGLY soulful instrumental 'I'll Cry'...",
"it does not get much better than this!",
"), Jimmy's drumming is great, the songs are excellent.",
"What more can you ask for?",
"Do yourself a favor and check this cd out."
] |
I remember when I was a kid, games based off of TV shows and movies were crummy. They were usually just glorified versions of Candy Land or even The Game of Life -- no real decision making, and the theme is just pasted onto the game play.
SoA:MoM is not like those games. It's a modern board game but not too complicated. You have three resources: money, contraband, guns. The winner is the player who ends the game with the most money, and all three resources are hidden throughout the game, so you won't know who the winner is until the end. You have two kinds of meeples: members and prospects. There are different areas in the game, and each area lets you make certain kinds of trades among all your resources. If 2+ players are on the same area, no one can use that area's abilities until the other player is "eliminated", either by voluntarily leaving (you can bribe players) or starting a fight. Every turn you reveal "anarchy cards" which can add temporary new areas or temporary bonuses or restrictions.
I've noticed in a lot of other reviews here that many people are surprised by the complexity of this game. The truth is that this game is of average complexity for a *modern* board game. I have a suspicions that most reviewers here are fans of SoA and have only played board games that were invented over 50 years ago. Based on all the other positive reviews, I'm hoping that this game acts as a "gateway" game to other modern board games.
The game says that it's for 3-4 players. There are expansions that let you play with 5 or even 6 players. If you're interested in that, you'll want the Luck of the Irish Expansion expansion. You could play this game with two -- there's nothing in the rules that makes that unplayable, but there's very little contention for areas with only two players, so it can get a little dry. Also, negotiation and trading are key parts of the came, but it's hard to do that with only two players.
There are several different advanced rules. Each gang can have different starting resources, and you can play with the "hardcore" cards and tiles. There are also suggestions for rules variations for people who want to mix it up even more.
All in all, I would say this game is pretty well balanced and has lots of stuff going on without being to complicated. There's little down time, and each round has different rules to keep it interesting. And even though the theme of this game might be violent, it certainly isn't anything like Cards Against Humanity, which is intentionally offensive. I've never watch the TV show, but I do like this game.
The only real flaw in this game is that it has a "king maker" problem. That is, it's possible for one player to sacrifice himself so that one other specific player can win. A person who is in last place can just give away all of his resources to another player, perhaps as incentive to attack a third player. This is a difficult problem to avoid, because negotiation is actually a big part of this game. You're expected to negotiate with other players about their actions, but you're supposed to negotiate for your advantage, not someone else's. My suggestion is that the players should disallow that kind of move in the game before starting. The rulebook actually does say, "don't be an ass." Wise words for any game.
Finally, a few notes about the box contents. Some boxes contain a clubhouse card for a fifth gang, but no other pieces for that gang. All this does is give you another choice for the "high octane" rule option. Also, some boxes are missing the black market reference card, so you'll have to download and print out the card (from the galeforce9 and boardgamegeek web sites) if you want the rules for a 3-player game. | 2 | positive | [
"I remember when I was a kid, games based off of TV shows and movies were crummy.",
"They were usually just glorified versions of Candy Land or even The Game of Life -- no real decision making, and the theme is just pasted onto the game play.",
"SoA:MoM is not like those games.",
"It's a modern board game but not too complicated.",
"You have three resources: money, contraband, guns.",
"The winner is the player who ends the game with the most money, and all three resources are hidden throughout the game, so you won't know who the winner is until the end.",
"You have two kinds of meeples: members and prospects.",
"There are different areas in the game, and each area lets you make certain kinds of trades among all your resources.",
"If 2+ players are on the same area, no one can use that area's abilities until the other player is \"eliminated\", either by voluntarily leaving (you can bribe players) or starting a fight.",
"Every turn you reveal \"anarchy cards\" which can add temporary new areas or temporary bonuses or restrictions.",
"I've noticed in a lot of other reviews here that many people are surprised by the complexity of this game.",
"The truth is that this game is of average complexity for a *modern* board game.",
"I have a suspicions that most reviewers here are fans of SoA and have only played board games that were invented over 50 years ago.",
"Based on all the other positive reviews, I'm hoping that this game acts as a \"gateway\" game to other modern board games.",
"The game says that it's for 3-4 players.",
"There are expansions that let you play with 5 or even 6 players.",
"If you're interested in that, you'll want the Luck of the Irish Expansion expansion.",
"You could play this game with two -- there's nothing in the rules that makes that unplayable, but there's very little contention for areas with only two players, so it can get a little dry.",
"Also, negotiation and trading are key parts of the came, but it's hard to do that with only two players.",
"There are several different advanced rules.",
"Each gang can have different starting resources, and you can play with the \"hardcore\" cards and tiles.",
"There are also suggestions for rules variations for people who want to mix it up even more.",
"All in all, I would say this game is pretty well balanced and has lots of stuff going on without being to complicated.",
"There's little down time, and each round has different rules to keep it interesting.",
"And even though the theme of this game might be violent, it certainly isn't anything like Cards Against Humanity, which is intentionally offensive.",
"I've never watch the TV show, but I do like this game.",
"The only real flaw in this game is that it has a \"king maker\" problem.",
"That is, it's possible for one player to sacrifice himself so that one other specific player can win.",
"A person who is in last place can just give away all of his resources to another player, perhaps as incentive to attack a third player.",
"This is a difficult problem to avoid, because negotiation is actually a big part of this game.",
"You're expected to negotiate with other players about their actions, but you're supposed to negotiate for your advantage, not someone else's.",
"My suggestion is that the players should disallow that kind of move in the game before starting.",
"The rulebook actually does say, \"don't be an ass.",
"\" Wise words for any game.",
"Finally, a few notes about the box contents.",
"Some boxes contain a clubhouse card for a fifth gang, but no other pieces for that gang.",
"All this does is give you another choice for the \"high octane\" rule option.",
"Also, some boxes are missing the black market reference card, so you'll have to download and print out the card (from the galeforce9 and boardgamegeek web sites) if you want the rules for a 3-player game."
] |
This CD is a powerful debut classic and I've been had it for 20 years in a rare original CD album copy and the CD is now discontinued with Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group and currently out of print and This Year, Their debut album will be re-issued under it's new music distributor Universal Music Group will be re-releasing of their self titled debut CD with Extra Bonus Tracks in a replicated Mini LP Compact Disc Sleeves containing 2 CD's from 20 tracks to 22 tracks divided into a 11 track, 2 CD album set format digitally remastered as part of the group's 20th Anniversary celebration also with all new liner notes.
DISC ONE
1. Intro (Blackstreet Philosophy) (Interlude)
2. Baby Be Mine
3. U Blow My Mind
4. Hey Love (Keep It Real) (Interlude)
5. I Like The Way You Work (Original LP Version)
6. Good Life
7. Physical Thing
8. Make U Wet
9. Booti Call (Original LP Version)
10. Love's In Need
11. Joy
DISC TWO
1. Before I Let You Go
2. Confession (Interlude)
3. Falling In Love Again
4. Candlelight Night (Interlude)
5. Tonight's The Night
6. Happy Home
7. Once In a Lifetime (Interlude)
8. Wanna Make Love
9. Givin' You All My Lovin' (Original CD Bonus Track)
10. I Like The Way You Work (T.R. Blackstreet Mix) (Newly Remastered CD Bonus Track)
11. Booti Call (Original 12" K.C. Miami Mix) (Newly Remastered CD Bonus Track)
The CD originally released as Atlantic 92351-2. | 2 | positive | [
"This CD is a powerful debut classic and I've been had it for 20 years in a rare original CD album copy and the CD is now discontinued with Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group and currently out of print and This Year, Their debut album will be re-issued under it's new music distributor Universal Music Group will be re-releasing of their self titled debut CD with Extra Bonus Tracks in a replicated Mini LP Compact Disc Sleeves containing 2 CD's from 20 tracks to 22 tracks divided into a 11 track, 2 CD album set format digitally remastered as part of the group's 20th Anniversary celebration also with all new liner notes.",
"DISC ONE\n1.",
"Intro (Blackstreet Philosophy) (Interlude)\n2.",
"Baby Be Mine\n3.",
"U Blow My Mind\n4.",
"Hey Love (Keep It Real) (Interlude)\n5.",
"I Like The Way You Work (Original LP Version)\n6.",
"Good Life\n7.",
"Physical Thing\n8.",
"Make U Wet\n9.",
"Booti Call (Original LP Version)\n10.",
"Love's In Need\n11.",
"Joy\n\nDISC TWO\n1.",
"Before I Let You Go\n2.",
"Confession (Interlude)\n3.",
"Falling In Love Again\n4.",
"Candlelight Night (Interlude)\n5.",
"Tonight's The Night\n6.",
"Happy Home\n7.",
"Once In a Lifetime (Interlude)\n8.",
"Wanna Make Love\n9.",
"Givin' You All My Lovin' (Original CD Bonus Track)\n10.",
"I Like The Way You Work (T.",
"R. Blackstreet Mix) (Newly Remastered CD Bonus Track)\n11.",
"Booti Call (Original 12\" K.",
"C. Miami Mix) (Newly Remastered CD Bonus Track)\n\nThe CD originally released as Atlantic 92351-2."
] |
Bananagrams is a word game that uses letter tiles - 144 unusally finger-friendly, bakelite letter tiles. It will remind you of other letter-tile word games, many other letter-tile word games, until you actually read the rules (which are simple enough to summarize on the 1x2-inch tag that is attached to the banana-like zippable package).
Basically, you draw a bunch of tiles and try to assemble all of them into a crossword array. If you succeed, you draw more. That's about it, basically-wise. The full rules are a bit more complex. Players all get the same number of letter tiles, the exact number depending on the how many are playing. They race to assemble all their letters into a crossword. As soon as one player succeeds, she calls "peel," at which time every player has to take a another letter tile. And so it goes, on and on, until almost all the letter tiles are used up. Naturally, the first player to have used all her tiles shouts "bananas" (if she still has the presence of mind to remember), and wins the game.
Everything about Bananagrams is Major FUN, the quality of the tiles, the portability and storability, the adaptability and flexibility. Because the game is so simple to explain, it is also simple to change - to adapt to different skill levels, different environments and time constraints. Read, for example, Lance Hampton's exemplary story of how he plays Bananagrams with his kids. We're working on variations for teams, and maybe even cooperative versions.
The Nathanson family, Bannanagram designers, comment:
"Obsessed by all the word games that could be found, we all hankered after something a bit more fluid than the classics we all love and wanted a game that the family could play together - ALL ages at the same time. We sought something portable, that we could take with us on our various travels and simple enough (with no superfluous pieces or packaging) that we could play in restaurants while waiting for our food. We love that one hand can be played in as little as five minutes, but as it's so addictive, it's often hard to put away!"
If you like playing with words, it's very likely that you'll be taking a banana-case full of Bananagrams with you everywhere. | 2 | positive | [
"Bananagrams is a word game that uses letter tiles - 144 unusally finger-friendly, bakelite letter tiles.",
"It will remind you of other letter-tile word games, many other letter-tile word games, until you actually read the rules (which are simple enough to summarize on the 1x2-inch tag that is attached to the banana-like zippable package).",
"Basically, you draw a bunch of tiles and try to assemble all of them into a crossword array.",
"If you succeed, you draw more.",
"That's about it, basically-wise.",
"The full rules are a bit more complex.",
"Players all get the same number of letter tiles, the exact number depending on the how many are playing.",
"They race to assemble all their letters into a crossword.",
"As soon as one player succeeds, she calls \"peel,\" at which time every player has to take a another letter tile.",
"And so it goes, on and on, until almost all the letter tiles are used up.",
"Naturally, the first player to have used all her tiles shouts \"bananas\" (if she still has the presence of mind to remember), and wins the game.",
"Everything about Bananagrams is Major FUN, the quality of the tiles, the portability and storability, the adaptability and flexibility.",
"Because the game is so simple to explain, it is also simple to change - to adapt to different skill levels, different environments and time constraints.",
"Read, for example, Lance Hampton's exemplary story of how he plays Bananagrams with his kids.",
"We're working on variations for teams, and maybe even cooperative versions.",
"The Nathanson family, Bannanagram designers, comment:\n\n \"Obsessed by all the word games that could be found, we all hankered after something a bit more fluid than the classics we all love and wanted a game that the family could play together - ALL ages at the same time.",
"We sought something portable, that we could take with us on our various travels and simple enough (with no superfluous pieces or packaging) that we could play in restaurants while waiting for our food.",
"We love that one hand can be played in as little as five minutes, but as it's so addictive, it's often hard to put away!",
"\"\n\nIf you like playing with words, it's very likely that you'll be taking a banana-case full of Bananagrams with you everywhere."
] |
In my opinion this is the best game hands down that has ever been made for xbox360! I have actually burned through 3 discs because I play the game so much. The campaign is great but the online play is where Halo 3 really shines.
Great things about this game:
-Fantastic sound effects - they change based on the character that you use, spartan or elite, male or female.
-Beat downs - melee attacks are great to finish off an opponent after you unload a clip into them.
-Online matchmaking with thousands of online players.
-Many maps available online.
-FORGE mode: you can create your own maps using theirs as a template, then you can invite people from online to play them with you. They can even save the maps on their xbox to use for later.
-Don't understand why that person just beat you in matchmaking? Go to the theater and watch the game from their perspective.
-Trash talk other players as you pound them into spartan pulp.
I could go on and on, but the main thing is that no game library is complete without this title! Buy it you won't be sorry. This game is not recommended for children as the online play can get a little mature over the microphone and headset - from other players. | 2 | positive | [
"In my opinion this is the best game hands down that has ever been made for xbox360!",
"I have actually burned through 3 discs because I play the game so much.",
"The campaign is great but the online play is where Halo 3 really shines.",
"Great things about this game:\n-Fantastic sound effects - they change based on the character that you use, spartan or elite, male or female.",
"-Beat downs - melee attacks are great to finish off an opponent after you unload a clip into them.",
"-Online matchmaking with thousands of online players.",
"-Many maps available online.",
"-FORGE mode: you can create your own maps using theirs as a template, then you can invite people from online to play them with you.",
"They can even save the maps on their xbox to use for later.",
"-Don't understand why that person just beat you in matchmaking?",
"Go to the theater and watch the game from their perspective.",
"-Trash talk other players as you pound them into spartan pulp.",
"I could go on and on, but the main thing is that no game library is complete without this title!",
"Buy it you won't be sorry.",
"This game is not recommended for children as the online play can get a little mature over the microphone and headset - from other players."
] |
After reading all the other reviews I'm sure you know what to expect. I'll start by listing the flaws of the game, or what most people complain about:
-same type of missions over and over and over
-no items, weapons, or armor to collect (I personally love this)
-there are still a few bugs here and there
-CoV classes need to be balanced against the Heroes
What is fun about this game you ask?
1. There are no items to collect! Why do I love this so much? You don't have to gather 40 people, then raid some dungeon 10-20 times, spending 3-4 hours each time, to get an item you want. But there is no economy? Correct and it's great. You don't have to spend a month collecting gold to buy that 1000 gold purple sword that is soooo uberific.
2. Combat is fantastic. You really need to pay attention to what is going on or you are toast. You actually feel like you have super powers and you have to know how and when to use them.
3. Successful PvP combat is based off skill not items. You don't have to worry about that 5 year old playing a decked out rogue in all purples killing you over and over because he has good items. If you want to be good in PvP then practice, it's as simple as that.
4. All characters are different. There are dozens of different character combinations and tons of ways to specialize your super powers. Not to mention the 1000's of ways you can design your costume.
This is a fun game. Yes the missions are repetitive, but you don't play this game for diverse missions and long drawn out story lines. You play this game to be a super hero\villain and bust some heads with really cool powers. | 2 | positive | [
"After reading all the other reviews I'm sure you know what to expect.",
"I'll start by listing the flaws of the game, or what most people complain about:\n\n-same type of missions over and over and over\n\n-no items, weapons, or armor to collect (I personally love this)\n\n-there are still a few bugs here and there\n\n-CoV classes need to be balanced against the Heroes\n\nWhat is fun about this game you ask?",
"1.",
"There are no items to collect!",
"Why do I love this so much?",
"You don't have to gather 40 people, then raid some dungeon 10-20 times, spending 3-4 hours each time, to get an item you want.",
"But there is no economy?",
"Correct and it's great.",
"You don't have to spend a month collecting gold to buy that 1000 gold purple sword that is soooo uberific.",
"2.",
"Combat is fantastic.",
"You really need to pay attention to what is going on or you are toast.",
"You actually feel like you have super powers and you have to know how and when to use them.",
"3.",
"Successful PvP combat is based off skill not items.",
"You don't have to worry about that 5 year old playing a decked out rogue in all purples killing you over and over because he has good items.",
"If you want to be good in PvP then practice, it's as simple as that.",
"4.",
"All characters are different.",
"There are dozens of different character combinations and tons of ways to specialize your super powers.",
"Not to mention the 1000's of ways you can design your costume.",
"This is a fun game.",
"Yes the missions are repetitive, but you don't play this game for diverse missions and long drawn out story lines.",
"You play this game to be a super hero\\villain and bust some heads with really cool powers."
] |
I have been using Halo products with my three cats since they were kittens, coupled with The Honest Kitchen. They are healthy, have beautiful black shiny coats and their poop doesn't really smell all that bad. These treats, they go insane over them. I really hate when people give a product a bad review because their cat doesn't like them. That really isn't a testament to the quality of the product, but that their cat is a finicky eater. The ingredients quality is evident when you can see how healthy it makes your pets just feeding them the products. I also had some of their food tested in an independent lab when I first started using their food, as with all "boutique" pet foods sometimes quality control isn't the best. But not with Halo. These people truly are passionate about their mission to bring quality pet products that are nutritious, healthy and all around top quality. Vets suggest that you feed your pets a variety of foods to make sure they are getting all the nutrition they need, which that is why I couple this food with The Honest Kitchen dehydrated wet. Another fantastic product and together with the Halo products, you can't go wrong. I will be getting more of these for sure. | 2 | positive | [
"I have been using Halo products with my three cats since they were kittens, coupled with The Honest Kitchen.",
"They are healthy, have beautiful black shiny coats and their poop doesn't really smell all that bad.",
"These treats, they go insane over them.",
"I really hate when people give a product a bad review because their cat doesn't like them.",
"That really isn't a testament to the quality of the product, but that their cat is a finicky eater.",
"The ingredients quality is evident when you can see how healthy it makes your pets just feeding them the products.",
"I also had some of their food tested in an independent lab when I first started using their food, as with all \"boutique\" pet foods sometimes quality control isn't the best.",
"But not with Halo.",
"These people truly are passionate about their mission to bring quality pet products that are nutritious, healthy and all around top quality.",
"Vets suggest that you feed your pets a variety of foods to make sure they are getting all the nutrition they need, which that is why I couple this food with The Honest Kitchen dehydrated wet.",
"Another fantastic product and together with the Halo products, you can't go wrong.",
"I will be getting more of these for sure."
] |
My daughter loves this roller coaster! She is 2 and will drag the car through the yard and back up the ramp by herself. She is always very excited to play with it and we always have a hard time walking by it on the way to the van to leave! However, like previous posters stated, she will not play with it for hours on end. I would have to say the most we have probably played with just this coaster is probably half an hour.
I love that I can take it apart and move it to different parts of the yard or store it. You need no tools to tack the track apart or put it back together. You can also very easily move this track with just one person, no help needed. It does take up quite a bit of space and it should be interesting to discover if I can find room for it inside this winter. I love that this toy helps my daughter to be physically active, so I will be finding a way to store it so I can occasionally get it out this winter.
If you found this review helpful or informative, please click yes! Thank you so much! | 2 | positive | [
"My daughter loves this roller coaster!",
"She is 2 and will drag the car through the yard and back up the ramp by herself.",
"She is always very excited to play with it and we always have a hard time walking by it on the way to the van to leave!",
"However, like previous posters stated, she will not play with it for hours on end.",
"I would have to say the most we have probably played with just this coaster is probably half an hour.",
"I love that I can take it apart and move it to different parts of the yard or store it.",
"You need no tools to tack the track apart or put it back together.",
"You can also very easily move this track with just one person, no help needed.",
"It does take up quite a bit of space and it should be interesting to discover if I can find room for it inside this winter.",
"I love that this toy helps my daughter to be physically active, so I will be finding a way to store it so I can occasionally get it out this winter.",
"If you found this review helpful or informative, please click yes!",
"Thank you so much!"
] |
I was in middle school when this movie came out. It was 1981 and I had saved up my pocket money to pay for the bus ride into the city and the admission for a matinee to a movie that seemed so exciting and lively to me.
I had read the book 'The Game of X' by Robert Sheckley as well as the adaptation of the movie by Heather Simon and imagined every scene in my head as I had gone through it. The movie was everything a young boy could have hoped for - a rollicking, comedic adventure with a very beautiful female Russian agent (Carrera) and a sinister KGB chief (played by Oliver Reed).
The only problem I have with this movie is the miscasting of Michael Crawford as Woody Wilkins, the cartoonist who helps out a friend of his at the CIA office in Paris. Englishman Crawford puts on the most exaggerated American accent imagineable, although admittedly he has the brilliant comedic timing necessary to pull off this role.
The CIA in France has a problem. They need a civilian to act as a courier to Istanbul. Of course Woody gets the job, but right from the start it's obvious he is taking his role just a little too seriously. By the time he arrives to meet his KGB contact in Turkey he has fully assumed the role of his cartoon creation - top CIA agent and superhero Condorman.
Barbara Carrera (who two years later would get to play a Bond girl - the very movies this one attempts to lampoon) plays KGB agent Natalia. Later, when she makes the decision to defect, the impressive Condorman comes to mind as the only CIA agent she will trust to handle her defection.
The only problem is the CIA does not have an agent with the codename Condorman.
What follows is an adventure filled race across Europe with enough gadgets to fill several Bond movies. There is some great car chases (performed by legendary French stunt driver Remy Julienne and his 16-man crew of drivers and mechanics), boat chases and along the way Crawford sports some of the most outrageous disguises in cinema history. It's all great fun and it's executed perfectly.
For high flying escapist entertainment they don't come much more downright enjoyable than this. The DVD is a disappointment with no special features to speak off except a rather slim production notes section in the inside cover booklet. It's 2 pages of notes on the making of the movie, with sections on 'The Story,' 'The Setting,' 'Gadgetry' and 'Stunts and Special Effects,' but it's all very slim pickings.
But, I've had this movie in my DVD collection for over two years and on those quiet rainy Saturday's it's a particular favorite (along with 1980s FLASH GORDON) to put in my DVD player and sit back and remember a more innocent time in my life.
Recommended for all dreamers. | 2 | positive | [
"I was in middle school when this movie came out.",
"It was 1981 and I had saved up my pocket money to pay for the bus ride into the city and the admission for a matinee to a movie that seemed so exciting and lively to me.",
"I had read the book 'The Game of X' by Robert Sheckley as well as the adaptation of the movie by Heather Simon and imagined every scene in my head as I had gone through it.",
"The movie was everything a young boy could have hoped for - a rollicking, comedic adventure with a very beautiful female Russian agent (Carrera) and a sinister KGB chief (played by Oliver Reed).",
"The only problem I have with this movie is the miscasting of Michael Crawford as Woody Wilkins, the cartoonist who helps out a friend of his at the CIA office in Paris.",
"Englishman Crawford puts on the most exaggerated American accent imagineable, although admittedly he has the brilliant comedic timing necessary to pull off this role.",
"The CIA in France has a problem.",
"They need a civilian to act as a courier to Istanbul.",
"Of course Woody gets the job, but right from the start it's obvious he is taking his role just a little too seriously.",
"By the time he arrives to meet his KGB contact in Turkey he has fully assumed the role of his cartoon creation - top CIA agent and superhero Condorman.",
"Barbara Carrera (who two years later would get to play a Bond girl - the very movies this one attempts to lampoon) plays KGB agent Natalia.",
"Later, when she makes the decision to defect, the impressive Condorman comes to mind as the only CIA agent she will trust to handle her defection.",
"The only problem is the CIA does not have an agent with the codename Condorman.",
"What follows is an adventure filled race across Europe with enough gadgets to fill several Bond movies.",
"There is some great car chases (performed by legendary French stunt driver Remy Julienne and his 16-man crew of drivers and mechanics), boat chases and along the way Crawford sports some of the most outrageous disguises in cinema history.",
"It's all great fun and it's executed perfectly.",
"For high flying escapist entertainment they don't come much more downright enjoyable than this.",
"The DVD is a disappointment with no special features to speak off except a rather slim production notes section in the inside cover booklet.",
"It's 2 pages of notes on the making of the movie, with sections on 'The Story,' 'The Setting,' 'Gadgetry' and 'Stunts and Special Effects,' but it's all very slim pickings.",
"But, I've had this movie in my DVD collection for over two years and on those quiet rainy Saturday's it's a particular favorite (along with 1980s FLASH GORDON) to put in my DVD player and sit back and remember a more innocent time in my life.",
"Recommended for all dreamers."
] |
Love these gloves. I usually wash my hands, put on lotion, and put on my gloves for the day. I work with dogs, art, and random cleaning. Now, I'm allergic to latex and I hate getting my hands dirty. I hate the feeling of dirt on my hands. I'm sure there is some underlying OCD issues. As a solution, I put on my gloves and I do all my daily chores and I never have cracked fingers, dirty nails, or stained hands. I also use the blue gloves but these are my absolute favorite. They are comfortable and the sizing is consistent. The purple is also a more pleasant color to look at all day. I do notice that some products can stain the purple and it's wonderful to know it's staying off my skin. I usually go through two pairs a day. If I wear the blue gloves it can be triple that. My only concern is putting these in landfills. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to recycle them. Oh, I just purchased the case of these, that's how much I love them. | 2 | positive | [
"Love these gloves.",
"I usually wash my hands, put on lotion, and put on my gloves for the day.",
"I work with dogs, art, and random cleaning.",
"Now, I'm allergic to latex and I hate getting my hands dirty.",
"I hate the feeling of dirt on my hands.",
"I'm sure there is some underlying OCD issues.",
"As a solution, I put on my gloves and I do all my daily chores and I never have cracked fingers, dirty nails, or stained hands.",
"I also use the blue gloves but these are my absolute favorite.",
"They are comfortable and the sizing is consistent.",
"The purple is also a more pleasant color to look at all day.",
"I do notice that some products can stain the purple and it's wonderful to know it's staying off my skin.",
"I usually go through two pairs a day.",
"If I wear the blue gloves it can be triple that.",
"My only concern is putting these in landfills.",
"I'm still trying to figure out the best way to recycle them.",
"Oh, I just purchased the case of these, that's how much I love them."
] |
Our 4 now adult very healthy (and seemingly happy) fantailed goldfish really like this food. We've bought different brands over the years and keep returning to this one. The ziplock top is a real bonus for keeping the 2 lbs. fresh. Our pond fish are not pets that we try to train or have entertain us. We are pleased to enjoy them enjoying the best environment we can provide, which includes constant monitoring of that environment for cleanliness, nutrition and general health. i.e. we care and respond to their needs. If we pass the pond or even linger, they don't really notice us - which is fine with me, as they are busy doing their thing with each other as fish. However, I do delight every morning at feeding time, when they always swim up to the surface and over to me to receive a handful of their Tetra Variety Blend. This is the only pond fish food they've ever responded to so enthusiastically. One other reason I care is that these 4 are the great grandchildren of our original 4 who constantly bred so quickly and in such great numbers that we had 40 of several generations at one point and had to constantly find good pond homes for most every year in order to keep them all and the medium size pond healthy. We rarely lost any to to death and disease, but it was always an issue to worry about - for their sake as captive creatures. After about 8 years, we finally got it down to these 4, with a place of 24/7 health, peaceful harmony and equanimity. | 2 | positive | [
"Our 4 now adult very healthy (and seemingly happy) fantailed goldfish really like this food.",
"We've bought different brands over the years and keep returning to this one.",
"The ziplock top is a real bonus for keeping the 2 lbs.",
"fresh.",
"Our pond fish are not pets that we try to train or have entertain us.",
"We are pleased to enjoy them enjoying the best environment we can provide, which includes constant monitoring of that environment for cleanliness, nutrition and general health.",
"i.",
"e. we care and respond to their needs.",
"If we pass the pond or even linger, they don't really notice us - which is fine with me, as they are busy doing their thing with each other as fish.",
"However, I do delight every morning at feeding time, when they always swim up to the surface and over to me to receive a handful of their Tetra Variety Blend.",
"This is the only pond fish food they've ever responded to so enthusiastically.",
"One other reason I care is that these 4 are the great grandchildren of our original 4 who constantly bred so quickly and in such great numbers that we had 40 of several generations at one point and had to constantly find good pond homes for most every year in order to keep them all and the medium size pond healthy.",
"We rarely lost any to to death and disease, but it was always an issue to worry about - for their sake as captive creatures.",
"After about 8 years, we finally got it down to these 4, with a place of 24/7 health, peaceful harmony and equanimity."
] |
This is probably one of the best if not the best historical book I have ever read. I study Art, and have been through many history books and novels, but never have I read one that was so captivating. It takes you right to the Tudor era, where you see everything vivdly in your head, the places, the castles, the people, even the outskirts of London City.
The story revolves around Mary and Anne Boleyn (Daughters of Elizabeth Howard). Mary beacme King Henry's mistress under the influence of her family, and was in the courts favor for some time, while Anne , her sister, overshadowed Mary by marrying King Henry and becoming Queen.
The book is a mixture of a lot of things, drama, romance, politics, history, that when you've finished reading it, you'll know a lot more about the Tudor age, courts in the 16th century, the King and some of his wives...
The close connection and rivarly between Anne and Mary, is astonishing, you'll cry with them, laugh with them, feel happy for them, and sometimes sorry. The story is narrated by Mary Boleyn, which gives a nice change, since most books on this particualr period are from Anne's point of view. Gregory goes into so much depth and detail that the books you read after this one will seem to lack them. It's one of those books, that you can't stop thinking about it till you've finished it, and will probably think about it after it too. I also recommend reading The Queen's Fool, and the Virgin's Lover, after this one, as they are basically sequential.
A great read, a great subject, and only a great author could have wrote it. This book is a winner. | 2 | positive | [
"This is probably one of the best if not the best historical book I have ever read.",
"I study Art, and have been through many history books and novels, but never have I read one that was so captivating.",
"It takes you right to the Tudor era, where you see everything vivdly in your head, the places, the castles, the people, even the outskirts of London City.",
"The story revolves around Mary and Anne Boleyn (Daughters of Elizabeth Howard).",
"Mary beacme King Henry's mistress under the influence of her family, and was in the courts favor for some time, while Anne , her sister, overshadowed Mary by marrying King Henry and becoming Queen.",
"The book is a mixture of a lot of things, drama, romance, politics, history, that when you've finished reading it, you'll know a lot more about the Tudor age, courts in the 16th century, the King and some of his wives...",
"The close connection and rivarly between Anne and Mary, is astonishing, you'll cry with them, laugh with them, feel happy for them, and sometimes sorry.",
"The story is narrated by Mary Boleyn, which gives a nice change, since most books on this particualr period are from Anne's point of view.",
"Gregory goes into so much depth and detail that the books you read after this one will seem to lack them.",
"It's one of those books, that you can't stop thinking about it till you've finished it, and will probably think about it after it too.",
"I also recommend reading The Queen's Fool, and the Virgin's Lover, after this one, as they are basically sequential.",
"A great read, a great subject, and only a great author could have wrote it.",
"This book is a winner."
] |
I share sentiments with most of the folks who have posted here. "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" was an important tune from my early teens (I still remember holding that tinny little transistor up to listen carefully). It's still a great song, and the whole album is great. I noticed a couple things on careful listening to the two versions of "Sunshine". The arrangements are quite similar, although the sound quality on the remake (which was on the original album) is better, the other one sounds like AM. More interesting is that the lyrics are a bit different. In the original, reference is to "I'll stay with you one year" and "I'll kiss you every night". On the album, it was "I'll live with you one year" and "I'll love you every night". Some things you just couldn't say on radio back then, I guess. Even for an album, this was more than a bit risque for the early 60s.
Another note -- the cheesy liner notes from the orignal "My Kind of Folk Songs" are here -- about how the family immigrated to the U.S. from new Zealand, and her father was a kind of itinerant carny. I know the U.S. part is wrong (they immigrated to Canada), and I suspect the father part might be made up, too.
I read columns by Gale (under the name Gale Zoe Garnett") in the Toronto papers from time to time, and am sorry I missed her recent, well-received, one-woman theatre performances.
Highly recommended! | 2 | positive | [
"I share sentiments with most of the folks who have posted here.",
"\"We'll Sing In The Sunshine\" was an important tune from my early teens (I still remember holding that tinny little transistor up to listen carefully).",
"It's still a great song, and the whole album is great.",
"I noticed a couple things on careful listening to the two versions of \"Sunshine\".",
"The arrangements are quite similar, although the sound quality on the remake (which was on the original album) is better, the other one sounds like AM.",
"More interesting is that the lyrics are a bit different.",
"In the original, reference is to \"I'll stay with you one year\" and \"I'll kiss you every night\".",
"On the album, it was \"I'll live with you one year\" and \"I'll love you every night\".",
"Some things you just couldn't say on radio back then, I guess.",
"Even for an album, this was more than a bit risque for the early 60s.",
"Another note -- the cheesy liner notes from the orignal \"My Kind of Folk Songs\" are here -- about how the family immigrated to the U.",
"S. from new Zealand, and her father was a kind of itinerant carny.",
"I know the U.",
"S. part is wrong (they immigrated to Canada), and I suspect the father part might be made up, too.",
"I read columns by Gale (under the name Gale Zoe Garnett\") in the Toronto papers from time to time, and am sorry I missed her recent, well-received, one-woman theatre performances.",
"Highly recommended!"
] |
Andy Griffith actually played bad guys in a number of movies, but this was probably his best performance in such a role. The movie is based on a true story. John Wallace, portrayed by Griffith, is a wealthy landowner in Merriweather County, Georgia. Because he wields so much power and influence, he thinks he's above the law. One day he and his friends kill one of his tenant farmers who dared to cross him. However, Wallace makes one mistake: he kills the man in Coweta County, where Lamar Potts is the sheriff. Unlike the sheriff in Merriweather County, Potts cannot be bought or intimidated, and he has the tenacity of a bulldog. The movie details his efforts to find the truth.
Andy Griffith is frighteningly convincing as the lawless and arrogant John Wallace, and Johnny Cash also gives a solid performance as the sheriff who's determined to bring him to justice. Earl Hindman also appears in the movie as Lamar Potts' brother and deputy. He later became famous as Wilson on "Home Improvement", and fans of that show will be interested in seeing what he really looks like! Though it is somewhat disturbing seeing Andy Griffith as a villain, the movie is still intriguing and well-worth viewing. | 2 | positive | [
"Andy Griffith actually played bad guys in a number of movies, but this was probably his best performance in such a role.",
"The movie is based on a true story.",
"John Wallace, portrayed by Griffith, is a wealthy landowner in Merriweather County, Georgia.",
"Because he wields so much power and influence, he thinks he's above the law.",
"One day he and his friends kill one of his tenant farmers who dared to cross him.",
"However, Wallace makes one mistake: he kills the man in Coweta County, where Lamar Potts is the sheriff.",
"Unlike the sheriff in Merriweather County, Potts cannot be bought or intimidated, and he has the tenacity of a bulldog.",
"The movie details his efforts to find the truth.",
"Andy Griffith is frighteningly convincing as the lawless and arrogant John Wallace, and Johnny Cash also gives a solid performance as the sheriff who's determined to bring him to justice.",
"Earl Hindman also appears in the movie as Lamar Potts' brother and deputy.",
"He later became famous as Wilson on \"Home Improvement\", and fans of that show will be interested in seeing what he really looks like!",
"Though it is somewhat disturbing seeing Andy Griffith as a villain, the movie is still intriguing and well-worth viewing."
] |
I love the Traditional Medicinals line of herbal teas, and often tell friends, family, and coworkers how well they worked. I love that this seasonal sampler gives me a way to introduce people to Traditional Medicinals in one handy box! I'm not anti-pharmaceutical, but I try to use effective natural remedies whenever I can and this box has some of my favorites in it. All it takes is one time to see how well these work - I have coworkers come snuffling to my door all the time now asking for these teas when they're feeling stuffy and foggy from colds in winter or allergies in summer.
Gypsy Cold Care is THE BEST thing when you have a cold - it's minty and refreshing and really helps with the stuffiness and throat irritation that inevitably accompany the common cold.
I always have a cup or two of Echinacea Plus when I'm around people who are sick - it's refreshing and easy to drink and I like to know that I'm helping boost my body's immune response while I enjoy my hot tea. I sometimes add a bag of this to the cup when I'm brewing one of the other varieties, too, just to give myself that extra boost.
Throat Coat is the best non-pharmaceutical sore throat solution I've ever found - it soothes inflamed throat tissues from overuse (as with singers and speakers) or due to illness. It really helped my husband last time he had a bad cough, as the irritation in his throat from the coughing was making the coughing worse (which made the irritation in the tissues worse and created a vicious cycle) and this soothed his throat so he was able to rest and stop coughing.
Breathe Easy is delightfully minty and is my go-to tea anytime I'm stuffy, whether from illness or allergies. I breathe in the steam from the cup as I drink it and it's the perfect gentle way to clear my sinuses and help me feel alert.
The most important thing with these teas is to make sure you use boiling water to prepare them and let them steep at least 10-15 minutes - that pulls the maximum benefit out of the herbs and produces the best result. | 2 | positive | [
"I love the Traditional Medicinals line of herbal teas, and often tell friends, family, and coworkers how well they worked.",
"I love that this seasonal sampler gives me a way to introduce people to Traditional Medicinals in one handy box!",
"I'm not anti-pharmaceutical, but I try to use effective natural remedies whenever I can and this box has some of my favorites in it.",
"All it takes is one time to see how well these work - I have coworkers come snuffling to my door all the time now asking for these teas when they're feeling stuffy and foggy from colds in winter or allergies in summer.",
"Gypsy Cold Care is THE BEST thing when you have a cold - it's minty and refreshing and really helps with the stuffiness and throat irritation that inevitably accompany the common cold.",
"I always have a cup or two of Echinacea Plus when I'm around people who are sick - it's refreshing and easy to drink and I like to know that I'm helping boost my body's immune response while I enjoy my hot tea.",
"I sometimes add a bag of this to the cup when I'm brewing one of the other varieties, too, just to give myself that extra boost.",
"Throat Coat is the best non-pharmaceutical sore throat solution I've ever found - it soothes inflamed throat tissues from overuse (as with singers and speakers) or due to illness.",
"It really helped my husband last time he had a bad cough, as the irritation in his throat from the coughing was making the coughing worse (which made the irritation in the tissues worse and created a vicious cycle) and this soothed his throat so he was able to rest and stop coughing.",
"Breathe Easy is delightfully minty and is my go-to tea anytime I'm stuffy, whether from illness or allergies.",
"I breathe in the steam from the cup as I drink it and it's the perfect gentle way to clear my sinuses and help me feel alert.",
"The most important thing with these teas is to make sure you use boiling water to prepare them and let them steep at least 10-15 minutes - that pulls the maximum benefit out of the herbs and produces the best result."
] |
VERY effective. Far better than the snap traps, glue traps or poison. The argument can be made that these are slightly less humane since they may take a few seconds to kill but the snap traps run the risk of trapping mice or snapping off limbs causing suffering. A mouse can not be partially zapped in this. Very straight forward use and easy to understand. I have caught about 4 mice so far. I no longer hear them scurrying around in the attic or anything but I'm sure they are around. We have 2 traps, one in the attic and one in the basement ceiling. They both caught 2 mice each without adding more peanut butter or moving the trap. I'm sure if we add more traps we might get more mice but then they will become more inconvenient to check/empty. The one in the attic is a pain as it is. The little LED light will blink when it has caught a mouse which is nice.
DESIGN FLAW - The lid very easily breaks off of its small plastic hinges. This does not render the unit unusable but makes it more difficult the setup as you have to carefully line up the lid to make sure the auto shut off sensor is aligned. This occurred when trying to remove a mouse from the trap. The mouse was a bit large and wedged in there. I put a little too much pressure on the lid when it was open and the hinges (small plastic nubs) broke. I now have to finagle the lid back on every time which is a pain. I might be able to create a duct tape hinge of sorts, but this should be addressed by the manufacturer.
Overall I would recommend this method to others. No poison, no gross clean up, easy straight forward setup. | 2 | positive | [
"VERY effective.",
"Far better than the snap traps, glue traps or poison.",
"The argument can be made that these are slightly less humane since they may take a few seconds to kill but the snap traps run the risk of trapping mice or snapping off limbs causing suffering.",
"A mouse can not be partially zapped in this.",
"Very straight forward use and easy to understand.",
"I have caught about 4 mice so far.",
"I no longer hear them scurrying around in the attic or anything but I'm sure they are around.",
"We have 2 traps, one in the attic and one in the basement ceiling.",
"They both caught 2 mice each without adding more peanut butter or moving the trap.",
"I'm sure if we add more traps we might get more mice but then they will become more inconvenient to check/empty.",
"The one in the attic is a pain as it is.",
"The little LED light will blink when it has caught a mouse which is nice.",
"DESIGN FLAW - The lid very easily breaks off of its small plastic hinges.",
"This does not render the unit unusable but makes it more difficult the setup as you have to carefully line up the lid to make sure the auto shut off sensor is aligned.",
"This occurred when trying to remove a mouse from the trap.",
"The mouse was a bit large and wedged in there.",
"I put a little too much pressure on the lid when it was open and the hinges (small plastic nubs) broke.",
"I now have to finagle the lid back on every time which is a pain.",
"I might be able to create a duct tape hinge of sorts, but this should be addressed by the manufacturer.",
"Overall I would recommend this method to others.",
"No poison, no gross clean up, easy straight forward setup."
] |
I have been a big fan of the Civilization series from the first time I played the first one on a bunch of floppy disks for a computer not even made any more. I've played every Civilization game made from the first one all the way to the various expansions of Civilization III and this game STILL holds the mark of excellence to what a great strategy and over all fun game are supposed to be. I remember when this game came out. It was the ultimate edition of Civilization. Everything the first was but so much more. Everything was fine tuned and perfected. Great sound effects and music as well as some nice little extras. Plus lots of additions never before seen in the Civilization series. Where as Civilization III took away a lot that made the series a lot of fun, this added so much more then the first had and truly made for an enjoyable experience that is still as much fun to this day. Far superior to anything else to ever hold the Civilization name and easily is still the top of the top as far as Turn Based games go.
You start out as one of many historic civilizations from Earths past and present. You can choose to be the Americans, Aztecs, Germans, Japanese, Zulu, Vikings and many more from all points of the globe. You start out with just a lone settler in the middle of an unknown area. You build one simple city and from there you just mold it in the path you want your civilization to go.
Perhaps you want to become a warmongering civilization and take over the rest of the world and put Napoleon and Ghengis Khan to shame. Or you want to be a peaceful civilization and make Ghandi look power hungry in comparison. The fun of this game is you really can take it in any path you want and build your civilizations as you see fit.
With hundreds of things to build there is rarely any time in the game where you don't have something you can add to your cities and civilization. Maybe you want to go for the Wonders of the World where only one Civilization can get very special buildings that give you abilities that will have you with a huge advantage over everyone else. Or you want to build great defense in each city so that no one will be able to break through and take over your cities. If you want to be a war mongering civ there are many great units for that too. From simple pikemen all the way up to nuclear missiles. Truly a test of time in every sense. A voyage that will take you from the begining of civilization all the way to the mid 2000's.
There are two ways to win the game. One is to take over the world and be the last civilization standing. The other for the non war monger is the spaceship path. Be the first to build a space ship and reach Alpha Centrui and you win. There is also the run out of time and have the highest score victory if all else fails and you reach the last year. There are 5 different difficulities so there are many options for how tough you want the computer opponents to be. You can either manhandle em or be humbled, either way it still is fun.
Some of the most thrilling parts of this game are just the little extras. Like when a Wonder of the World is built by your civilization you get a little avi movie that will suddenly load and it will show you a real life movie represenation of what is being built with an explanation of what it does. It's really cool to see the Statue of Libery wonder movie for instance and you see all the people arriving from over seas happy to see the Statue of Liberty before they show a few pics of it in the sun set. Also they have actual advisors that will talk to when you ask to speak to your council. There are five of these (Military, Science, Trade, Foreign and Entertainment) each of them portrayed by a real life actor who will tell you how you are doing in each area. So you may get the military guy yelling at you for not having city walls or the science guy calling you Einstien for being #1 in science advancements when compared to the rest of the civilizations. Every unit and building built has it's own sound effects too. Its truly a very complete and overall FUN game.
The gold edition also has a lot of extras. Like multiplayer ability where you can play against others on line or in a hot seat situation (where you keep on switching off turns on the same computer) has loads of scenario packs that were released some time after CivII was to add some more extras. So you can visit some futuristic worlds or relive some old battles from the Earth's past. Some of the scenarios have totaly new unique units giving you a whole new playing experience but still keeping to the same Civilization II familiarity so you can jump right into it as if you were reliving a famous battle once fought in our history.
I hope with Civilizatin IV they reutrn to what made the game so much fun and complete. This game truly had everything that any strategy game could ever want. Everyone could play it as it catered to every level of ablility and the extra bells and whistles really put it over the top even to todays games that seem to be more graphicly based then fun based. Civilization III cut out a lot of the things that were in this game and while it's still fun I still find myself playing this one more often as it is still just as good every time. Sometimes you just can't beat the classics and if there a classic that still stands the test of time. This is it.
You will not be sorry adding this version of Civilization to your collections. The gold edition has every expansion included with it and you can jump right into it as if you had always known how to play it. There will always be more games to join the market that will try and out do this game, but I am yet to find one that has yet to out do this. Find out for yourself why taking over the world is so much fun and be prepared to lose lots of sleep wanting to just do "One more turn.." | 2 | positive | [
"I have been a big fan of the Civilization series from the first time I played the first one on a bunch of floppy disks for a computer not even made any more.",
"I've played every Civilization game made from the first one all the way to the various expansions of Civilization III and this game STILL holds the mark of excellence to what a great strategy and over all fun game are supposed to be.",
"I remember when this game came out.",
"It was the ultimate edition of Civilization.",
"Everything the first was but so much more.",
"Everything was fine tuned and perfected.",
"Great sound effects and music as well as some nice little extras.",
"Plus lots of additions never before seen in the Civilization series.",
"Where as Civilization III took away a lot that made the series a lot of fun, this added so much more then the first had and truly made for an enjoyable experience that is still as much fun to this day.",
"Far superior to anything else to ever hold the Civilization name and easily is still the top of the top as far as Turn Based games go.",
"You start out as one of many historic civilizations from Earths past and present.",
"You can choose to be the Americans, Aztecs, Germans, Japanese, Zulu, Vikings and many more from all points of the globe.",
"You start out with just a lone settler in the middle of an unknown area.",
"You build one simple city and from there you just mold it in the path you want your civilization to go.",
"Perhaps you want to become a warmongering civilization and take over the rest of the world and put Napoleon and Ghengis Khan to shame.",
"Or you want to be a peaceful civilization and make Ghandi look power hungry in comparison.",
"The fun of this game is you really can take it in any path you want and build your civilizations as you see fit.",
"With hundreds of things to build there is rarely any time in the game where you don't have something you can add to your cities and civilization.",
"Maybe you want to go for the Wonders of the World where only one Civilization can get very special buildings that give you abilities that will have you with a huge advantage over everyone else.",
"Or you want to build great defense in each city so that no one will be able to break through and take over your cities.",
"If you want to be a war mongering civ there are many great units for that too.",
"From simple pikemen all the way up to nuclear missiles.",
"Truly a test of time in every sense.",
"A voyage that will take you from the begining of civilization all the way to the mid 2000's.",
"There are two ways to win the game.",
"One is to take over the world and be the last civilization standing.",
"The other for the non war monger is the spaceship path.",
"Be the first to build a space ship and reach Alpha Centrui and you win.",
"There is also the run out of time and have the highest score victory if all else fails and you reach the last year.",
"There are 5 different difficulities so there are many options for how tough you want the computer opponents to be.",
"You can either manhandle em or be humbled, either way it still is fun.",
"Some of the most thrilling parts of this game are just the little extras.",
"Like when a Wonder of the World is built by your civilization you get a little avi movie that will suddenly load and it will show you a real life movie represenation of what is being built with an explanation of what it does.",
"It's really cool to see the Statue of Libery wonder movie for instance and you see all the people arriving from over seas happy to see the Statue of Liberty before they show a few pics of it in the sun set.",
"Also they have actual advisors that will talk to when you ask to speak to your council.",
"There are five of these (Military, Science, Trade, Foreign and Entertainment) each of them portrayed by a real life actor who will tell you how you are doing in each area.",
"So you may get the military guy yelling at you for not having city walls or the science guy calling you Einstien for being #1 in science advancements when compared to the rest of the civilizations.",
"Every unit and building built has it's own sound effects too.",
"Its truly a very complete and overall FUN game.",
"The gold edition also has a lot of extras.",
"Like multiplayer ability where you can play against others on line or in a hot seat situation (where you keep on switching off turns on the same computer) has loads of scenario packs that were released some time after CivII was to add some more extras.",
"So you can visit some futuristic worlds or relive some old battles from the Earth's past.",
"Some of the scenarios have totaly new unique units giving you a whole new playing experience but still keeping to the same Civilization II familiarity so you can jump right into it as if you were reliving a famous battle once fought in our history.",
"I hope with Civilizatin IV they reutrn to what made the game so much fun and complete.",
"This game truly had everything that any strategy game could ever want.",
"Everyone could play it as it catered to every level of ablility and the extra bells and whistles really put it over the top even to todays games that seem to be more graphicly based then fun based.",
"Civilization III cut out a lot of the things that were in this game and while it's still fun I still find myself playing this one more often as it is still just as good every time.",
"Sometimes you just can't beat the classics and if there a classic that still stands the test of time.",
"This is it.",
"You will not be sorry adding this version of Civilization to your collections.",
"The gold edition has every expansion included with it and you can jump right into it as if you had always known how to play it.",
"There will always be more games to join the market that will try and out do this game, but I am yet to find one that has yet to out do this.",
"Find out for yourself why taking over the world is so much fun and be prepared to lose lots of sleep wanting to just do \"One more turn..",
"\""
] |
. . . and I wasn't originally much interested in the history of Australia. A friend recommended this, however, and I'm currently reading it for the second time. Hughes is best known as an art critic, but he has written a detailed and thorough history of his homeland that I found fascinating. The legend is that Australia was colonized by worthless convicts; the reality is much more complex and interesting. I learned more about the English system of justice in 18th and early 19th century here than I'd ever known before and than I ever expected to. He provides such insight into the lives of Australians at every level of society, often in their own words, that the complexity of the country and its people are vivid and immediate. It's sometimes heartbreaking to read of native people and convicts who were deliberately broken, but good history that pays attention to the lives of ordinary people often is heartbreaking and gripping. This book certainly is. | 2 | positive | [
".",
".",
".",
"and I wasn't originally much interested in the history of Australia.",
"A friend recommended this, however, and I'm currently reading it for the second time.",
"Hughes is best known as an art critic, but he has written a detailed and thorough history of his homeland that I found fascinating.",
"The legend is that Australia was colonized by worthless convicts; the reality is much more complex and interesting.",
"I learned more about the English system of justice in 18th and early 19th century here than I'd ever known before and than I ever expected to.",
"He provides such insight into the lives of Australians at every level of society, often in their own words, that the complexity of the country and its people are vivid and immediate.",
"It's sometimes heartbreaking to read of native people and convicts who were deliberately broken, but good history that pays attention to the lives of ordinary people often is heartbreaking and gripping.",
"This book certainly is."
] |
The Left Banke are known primarily for two songs: "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" but their discography offers so much more. Unlike alot of other pop groups of the mid/late 60's era, their albums were of high caliber and not full of filler or cover tunes.
The Left Banke's first album, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina is definitely their best. Lead singer Steve Martin-Caro's voice and Michael Brown's songwriting and harpiscord playing, along with the background harmonies of Tom Finn and George Cameron are just magical. The only song that sounds a bit odd is the country sounding "What Do You Know."
The second album, Left Banke Too has some great songs like "Desiree" and "There's Gonna Be A Storm." This album also features George Cameron and Tom Finn sharing leads on some of the songs. Tom Finn has a great voice and in my opinion should have done a solo LP.
There are a few tracks I feel do not belong on this CD. There were three songs recorded under The Left Banke name that feature Bert Sommer on lead vocals. These songs include "Men Are Building Sand," "And Suddenly," and the Tom Fair composition, "Ivy, Ivy." The only real Left Banke member on these songs is Michael Brown. Some fans do like having these songs in their collection though, dispite them not having core members Martin-Caro/Finn/Cameron on them.
There are also two tracks which are only Steve Martin-Caro and Michael Brown. These tracks are the lovely "Myrah" and it's flip side, "Pedestal."
In all, this is a great collection. I don't know anyone who was ever disappointed by it. The CD is now OOP and goes anywhere from $40 to $100 on eBay and other sites. I hope in the future, someone will be smart enough to make a proper Left Banke collection including all three albums and unreleased tracks. Polygram/Mercury was foolish to stop the production of this great CD but now it is available as a MP3 album which is better than nothing. | 2 | positive | [
"The Left Banke are known primarily for two songs: \"Walk Away Renee\" and \"Pretty Ballerina\" but their discography offers so much more.",
"Unlike alot of other pop groups of the mid/late 60's era, their albums were of high caliber and not full of filler or cover tunes.",
"The Left Banke's first album, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina is definitely their best.",
"Lead singer Steve Martin-Caro's voice and Michael Brown's songwriting and harpiscord playing, along with the background harmonies of Tom Finn and George Cameron are just magical.",
"The only song that sounds a bit odd is the country sounding \"What Do You Know.",
"\"\n\nThe second album, Left Banke Too has some great songs like \"Desiree\" and \"There's Gonna Be A Storm.",
"\" This album also features George Cameron and Tom Finn sharing leads on some of the songs.",
"Tom Finn has a great voice and in my opinion should have done a solo LP.",
"There are a few tracks I feel do not belong on this CD.",
"There were three songs recorded under The Left Banke name that feature Bert Sommer on lead vocals.",
"These songs include \"Men Are Building Sand,\" \"And Suddenly,\" and the Tom Fair composition, \"Ivy, Ivy.",
"\" The only real Left Banke member on these songs is Michael Brown.",
"Some fans do like having these songs in their collection though, dispite them not having core members Martin-Caro/Finn/Cameron on them.",
"There are also two tracks which are only Steve Martin-Caro and Michael Brown.",
"These tracks are the lovely \"Myrah\" and it's flip side, \"Pedestal.",
"\"\n\nIn all, this is a great collection.",
"I don't know anyone who was ever disappointed by it.",
"The CD is now OOP and goes anywhere from $40 to $100 on eBay and other sites.",
"I hope in the future, someone will be smart enough to make a proper Left Banke collection including all three albums and unreleased tracks.",
"Polygram/Mercury was foolish to stop the production of this great CD but now it is available as a MP3 album which is better than nothing."
] |
There's not much doubt that this is the best live album ever recorded by anybody....ever. Duane died shortly after these recordings, so this is an album without comparison in all of rock.....this is THE live rock album.......nobody ever came close again.......one of the best Bands that ever existed, captured blazing hot just before their lights would dim forever. What else can you say?.....Duane and Dickey are brilliant, Gregg spectacular, but the set is historic because Jai Johanny and Butch Trucks never stop while Berry Oakley keeps the bottom running full tilt regardless of where Dickey and the Allmans are flying at any given moment.
If you are entranced by this music (and how could anyone not be?), you should consider getting one of the full Fillmore East sets (the famous hall really DID have a great sound, much better than the Kinetic Playground in Chicago, Fillmore West, or any of the others....I remember them very well). The reviews of the surround sound remixes are varied.....many people don't like having Duane and Dickey behind them......so my advice is to read the reviews before you buy.
No matter what you decide, I would strongly urge you to consider this album because it is THE historic mix, THE memorable sequencing, THIS ONE is what made that night in 71 famous, and for that reason alone this album should be in everyone's collection. Just buy the damn thing and love it like the rest of us. | 2 | positive | [
"There's not much doubt that this is the best live album ever recorded by anybody....",
"ever.",
"Duane died shortly after these recordings, so this is an album without comparison in all of rock....",
".",
"this is THE live rock album....",
"...",
"nobody ever came close again....",
"...",
"one of the best Bands that ever existed, captured blazing hot just before their lights would dim forever.",
"What else can you say?...",
"..",
"Duane and Dickey are brilliant, Gregg spectacular, but the set is historic because Jai Johanny and Butch Trucks never stop while Berry Oakley keeps the bottom running full tilt regardless of where Dickey and the Allmans are flying at any given moment.",
"If you are entranced by this music (and how could anyone not be?",
"), you should consider getting one of the full Fillmore East sets (the famous hall really DID have a great sound, much better than the Kinetic Playground in Chicago, Fillmore West, or any of the others....",
"I remember them very well).",
"The reviews of the surround sound remixes are varied....",
".",
"many people don't like having Duane and Dickey behind them....",
"..",
"so my advice is to read the reviews before you buy.",
"No matter what you decide, I would strongly urge you to consider this album because it is THE historic mix, THE memorable sequencing, THIS ONE is what made that night in 71 famous, and for that reason alone this album should be in everyone's collection.",
"Just buy the damn thing and love it like the rest of us."
] |
Raw Sienna is an important album in that it represents the end of the road for the Chris Youlden blues era and foreshadows the more straight-forward rock era to begin with Looking In. The heroin-for-lunch-bunch loved this album despite the message of moderation set forth in Needle and Spoon. Guess the second part of that song was the part they tuned out. I was fourteen when I first heard the album and side 1 was a little rough for me despite my being partial to a good horn section. It is side 2 that really stands out. Every song is memorable. Listen to the emotion screaming out in the clotted voice of Chris Youlden on I'm Crying, to the mellow seduction of Stay While the Night is Young, and to the instrumental prowess on display on Is That So? When I Was a Young Boy forcefully expresses the regrets and shoulda, coulda, wouldas of many a man. Drummers will appreciate the understated percussion on this side and instrumental aficionados will be spellbound by Is That So? If you own only one Savoy Brown album, that album should be Raw Sienna. | 2 | positive | [
"Raw Sienna is an important album in that it represents the end of the road for the Chris Youlden blues era and foreshadows the more straight-forward rock era to begin with Looking In.",
"The heroin-for-lunch-bunch loved this album despite the message of moderation set forth in Needle and Spoon.",
"Guess the second part of that song was the part they tuned out.",
"I was fourteen when I first heard the album and side 1 was a little rough for me despite my being partial to a good horn section.",
"It is side 2 that really stands out.",
"Every song is memorable.",
"Listen to the emotion screaming out in the clotted voice of Chris Youlden on I'm Crying, to the mellow seduction of Stay While the Night is Young, and to the instrumental prowess on display on Is That So?",
"When I Was a Young Boy forcefully expresses the regrets and shoulda, coulda, wouldas of many a man.",
"Drummers will appreciate the understated percussion on this side and instrumental aficionados will be spellbound by Is That So?",
"If you own only one Savoy Brown album, that album should be Raw Sienna."
] |
This is definitely the must-haves 2 go get. I've been awaiting to review so long so I purchased it at Wal-Mart 3 yrs. ago. I've been a fan to Barry since I got him instantly by listening to the CD. It has great songs incl. "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me.", "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe", the remake of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are", "Love's Theme", etc.
Now that's he gone, he still remain one of my inspirations to follow alongside Marvin Gaye, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, 2Pac, Biggie, Donny Hathaway, Grover Washington Jr., Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Musiq, Jon B., Donell Jones, and many others. In 10 years, he will be remembered 'cause he monitored a generation of R&B and Soul.
I highly recommend this CD to those who want to hear real good music like from the 'ol school and beyond. The must-haves I have on my CD player are Kanye West's THE COLLEGE DROPOUT, Miles Davis' KIND OF BLUE, Grover Washington, Jr.'s THE BEST OF GROVER WASHINGTON, JR., Alicia Keys' SONGS IN A MINOR and THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS, Guru's JAZZMATAZZ, VOL. 1, David Sanborn's PEARLS, Musiq's SOULSTAR, Justin Timberlake's JUSTIFIED, OutKast's SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW, Nelly's SWEAT/SUIT, R. Kelly's CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and so on and on.
If those that don't like Barry or haven't even heard of him, I urge u to go check him out, 'cause he's the man. | 2 | positive | [
"This is definitely the must-haves 2 go get.",
"I've been awaiting to review so long so I purchased it at Wal-Mart 3 yrs.",
"ago.",
"I've been a fan to Barry since I got him instantly by listening to the CD.",
"It has great songs incl.",
"\"It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me.",
"\", \"Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe\", the remake of Billy Joel's \"Just the Way You Are\", \"Love's Theme\", etc.",
"Now that's he gone, he still remain one of my inspirations to follow alongside Marvin Gaye, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, 2Pac, Biggie, Donny Hathaway, Grover Washington Jr.",
", Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Musiq, Jon B.",
", Donell Jones, and many others.",
"In 10 years, he will be remembered 'cause he monitored a generation of R&B and Soul.",
"I highly recommend this CD to those who want to hear real good music like from the 'ol school and beyond.",
"The must-haves I have on my CD player are Kanye West's THE COLLEGE DROPOUT, Miles Davis' KIND OF BLUE, Grover Washington, Jr.",
"'s THE BEST OF GROVER WASHINGTON, JR.",
", Alicia Keys' SONGS IN A MINOR and THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS, Guru's JAZZMATAZZ, VOL.",
"1, David Sanborn's PEARLS, Musiq's SOULSTAR, Justin Timberlake's JUSTIFIED, OutKast's SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW, Nelly's SWEAT/SUIT, R.",
"Kelly's CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and so on and on.",
"If those that don't like Barry or haven't even heard of him, I urge u to go check him out, 'cause he's the man."
] |
So, my now ex was at Home Depot and texted me asking if I needed anything, I texted " Can of Seafoam ". So she shows the store clerk my text. She brings me home a can of foam for spraying into cracks ..
Okay, so unfortunately the store clerk does not have a clue to the many beneficial uses of Seafoam. I use it on motorcycles, atvs and small engines when the carburetors are having issue. 90% of the time, the Seafoam will be effective and rebuild will not be necessary.
On atv's and motorcycles, I pour a can of Seafoam into the gas tank and run the engine for 15-20 minutes. I then remove the air filter and place my hand over the intake while holding the throttle wide open. You may see fuel and fire come out the exhaust, no worries. This method will usually clean any trash or restriction in the low and high idle jets. Or you can do the following, on small engines drain the old fuel and fuel bowl, refill with fresh fuel and add seafoam. Pull the spark plug and turn engine over until fuel is present at plug opening. Install spark plug and let set for several hours prior to starting.
Use in vehicle fuel tanks regularly to prevent any sludge buildup, preventing fuel pump screen blockage and extending the life of the fuel pump. Occasionally, I will pour Seafoam into the vacuum line going to the throttle body. No doubt Seafoam works, as you will see a noticeable difference in performance after usage. The only drawback to using on older vehicles is that it will clean the gunk out of them and you will be having to change fuel filters as it will clog them up | 2 | positive | [
"So, my now ex was at Home Depot and texted me asking if I needed anything, I texted \" Can of Seafoam \".",
"So she shows the store clerk my text.",
"She brings me home a can of foam for spraying into cracks..",
"Okay, so unfortunately the store clerk does not have a clue to the many beneficial uses of Seafoam.",
"I use it on motorcycles, atvs and small engines when the carburetors are having issue.",
"90% of the time, the Seafoam will be effective and rebuild will not be necessary.",
"On atv's and motorcycles, I pour a can of Seafoam into the gas tank and run the engine for 15-20 minutes.",
"I then remove the air filter and place my hand over the intake while holding the throttle wide open.",
"You may see fuel and fire come out the exhaust, no worries.",
"This method will usually clean any trash or restriction in the low and high idle jets.",
"Or you can do the following, on small engines drain the old fuel and fuel bowl, refill with fresh fuel and add seafoam.",
"Pull the spark plug and turn engine over until fuel is present at plug opening.",
"Install spark plug and let set for several hours prior to starting.",
"Use in vehicle fuel tanks regularly to prevent any sludge buildup, preventing fuel pump screen blockage and extending the life of the fuel pump.",
"Occasionally, I will pour Seafoam into the vacuum line going to the throttle body.",
"No doubt Seafoam works, as you will see a noticeable difference in performance after usage.",
"The only drawback to using on older vehicles is that it will clean the gunk out of them and you will be having to change fuel filters as it will clog them up"
] |
Most annual release franchises try to dazzle gamers by adding a few new features, to a roster updated but otherwise unchanged, game. THQ and Yukes are one of the few companies that seem to take their game back to the drawing board each year and rebuild from the ground up. Smackdown vs. Raw '07 is a truly an ambitious example of this trend and the end product is nothing short of amazing!!
By far the largest change this year is the completely redone control scheme. Though this can initially be very jaring to long time fans who have been using the same controls for almost a decade to play Smackdown games, it truly IS for the best. Each year THQ has been trying to give the gamer increased control over what moves their wrestler performs in the ring while still maintaining an authentic on screen wrestling matches. This year the right analog stick gives you more control over what AND HOW certain moves are performed. For example, in the past a typical turnbuckle move was to mount and punch a guy 10 times. This was performed by pressing the right combo of buttons and was followed by a canned animation. In SVR '07 you actually control how many times you punch your opponent by mimicking the punching motion and pressing up and down with the right analog stick. This may initially seem needlessly complicated but the on screen instructions make the appropriate button presses apparent in all environmental situations.
The season and GM modes have also been improved upon but to me the most exciting changes were done to the create-a-entrance mode. You can now watch entrances AS you make changes and you can actually control the timing on fireworks and camera moves!! WOW!!
The graphics and sound are as good as they are gonna get on the PS2. It's hard to explain but the moves seem to "chain together" better than in past games. For example, reversals aren't so obvious and thus harder to counter. You'll think you're executing a move perfectly until Oops, you're laying on the mat wondering what happened. The wrestler models are slightly closer to their real life versions this year. The commentary though, mostly the same seems to have been expanded upon for more action specific comments. Instead of JR commenting on the fact that you are beating your opponent, he'll talk about the powerbomb you just executed. The wrestlers themselves also make noise as well when wrestling (hooray for grunting) . The only negative criticism I have relates to loading screens. While this has always been an issue on the PS2, loading seems to take extra long this year (probably because of all of the improvements). In some cases you'll wait 20 seconds on one load screen only to go to the next load screen. | 2 | positive | [
"Most annual release franchises try to dazzle gamers by adding a few new features, to a roster updated but otherwise unchanged, game.",
"THQ and Yukes are one of the few companies that seem to take their game back to the drawing board each year and rebuild from the ground up.",
"Smackdown vs.",
"Raw '07 is a truly an ambitious example of this trend and the end product is nothing short of amazing!!",
"By far the largest change this year is the completely redone control scheme.",
"Though this can initially be very jaring to long time fans who have been using the same controls for almost a decade to play Smackdown games, it truly IS for the best.",
"Each year THQ has been trying to give the gamer increased control over what moves their wrestler performs in the ring while still maintaining an authentic on screen wrestling matches.",
"This year the right analog stick gives you more control over what AND HOW certain moves are performed.",
"For example, in the past a typical turnbuckle move was to mount and punch a guy 10 times.",
"This was performed by pressing the right combo of buttons and was followed by a canned animation.",
"In SVR '07 you actually control how many times you punch your opponent by mimicking the punching motion and pressing up and down with the right analog stick.",
"This may initially seem needlessly complicated but the on screen instructions make the appropriate button presses apparent in all environmental situations.",
"The season and GM modes have also been improved upon but to me the most exciting changes were done to the create-a-entrance mode.",
"You can now watch entrances AS you make changes and you can actually control the timing on fireworks and camera moves!!",
"WOW!!",
"The graphics and sound are as good as they are gonna get on the PS2.",
"It's hard to explain but the moves seem to \"chain together\" better than in past games.",
"For example, reversals aren't so obvious and thus harder to counter.",
"You'll think you're executing a move perfectly until Oops, you're laying on the mat wondering what happened.",
"The wrestler models are slightly closer to their real life versions this year.",
"The commentary though, mostly the same seems to have been expanded upon for more action specific comments.",
"Instead of JR commenting on the fact that you are beating your opponent, he'll talk about the powerbomb you just executed.",
"The wrestlers themselves also make noise as well when wrestling (hooray for grunting).",
"The only negative criticism I have relates to loading screens.",
"While this has always been an issue on the PS2, loading seems to take extra long this year (probably because of all of the improvements).",
"In some cases you'll wait 20 seconds on one load screen only to go to the next load screen."
] |
I wanted some over-ear 'phones for two uses: 1.) my iPod (especially when traveling by plane) and 2.) to plug into the speaker on my Mac when watching movies. These babies deliver the sound. I read a lot of the reviews here before purchasing and they helped me decide--I am very satisfied with my choice. I am hearing nuances and parts of songs I never noticed before. I mostly listen to prog-rock and electronic music and the sound is just awesome. I would recommend these for price-point and sound alone. I realize that everyone's hearing is different, so who knows--they might not work for you. But you'd have to be deaf not to love them! The bass is excellent and like I said--you hear EVERYTHING in the song! Slap 'em on-crank 'em up! | 2 | positive | [
"I wanted some over-ear 'phones for two uses: 1.",
") my iPod (especially when traveling by plane) and 2.",
") to plug into the speaker on my Mac when watching movies.",
"These babies deliver the sound.",
"I read a lot of the reviews here before purchasing and they helped me decide--I am very satisfied with my choice.",
"I am hearing nuances and parts of songs I never noticed before.",
"I mostly listen to prog-rock and electronic music and the sound is just awesome.",
"I would recommend these for price-point and sound alone.",
"I realize that everyone's hearing is different, so who knows--they might not work for you.",
"But you'd have to be deaf not to love them!",
"The bass is excellent and like I said--you hear EVERYTHING in the song!",
"Slap 'em on-crank 'em up!"
] |
Computer interfaces, like recreational drugs, have to keep on getting more and more immediately satisfying no matter what they do to your body. The most dreadful change was from the "white on black" scheme of old terminals to today's "black on white" screens--vastly increasing the amount of light coming from the screen and hence our inability to turn away from it. The second was the use of "pointing devices" which has led to the development of a generation of people who have such asymmetry in their hands that they look like lobsters.
The conventional mouse was crafted through great engineering and marketing research to be compelling and hard to let go of, even though it leads your ligaments to freeze in a terrible position. The logitech handed trackball (I can't recommend the more symmetric types) is the only pointing device that works with the construction of the hand of most members of homo sapiens. The only part that is moving repetitively is the base of the thumb which is one of the stronger parts of the hand.
You will notice this if you try this trackball under normal circumstances. But it is in tense circumstances that it comes into its own. Grip a normal mouse the way you would if you were upset--say, you were just clicking open an email that you correctly guessed told you that you were fired. Your hand is almost certainly twisted into a grip that will make you a natural Appalachian banjo player, but useless for pretty much everything else. Now do the same thing with the trackman. It actually relaxes your hand as you grab harder! Thankfully, most of us don't get fired regularly, but we do have stress and lots of the stress comes precisely when we are using our pointing device--opening and selecting things. Those of us with stressful jobs and trackmen will be beating all the other folks in the old age home at tiddlywinks, I can tell you that.
Further--and this is a bit disgusting but true--mice get dirty from hand sweat, and the more tension in your life, the more hand sweat. For some reason computer manufacturers went for this dental-equipment beige color that really shows the dirt. I sit down at someone's computer who has the original mouse and I don't want to touch it. I'd rather wear their dirty underwear. At least I can't see the grossness. The scum that does build up over the years on the trackball is easy to remove--just pop out the ball (the newer versions don't have the retaining ring so just give the unit a smart tap upside down and out it comes like a glass eye!).
Finally, and maybe this is just me, but sometimes if you've been working late, the typical mouse DOES start to look like a real mouse. Or a rat, since (thank G-d) there aren't many mice that big. Like most of us, I've killed my share of mice and don't really like the idea of having to reach over and put my hand on their big brother.
The trackman, in contrast, looks a little bit like the face of a beluga whale seen from the side. That's calming! And if you're like me, when you're using a computer, you can use all the calm you can get. [39] | 2 | positive | [
"Computer interfaces, like recreational drugs, have to keep on getting more and more immediately satisfying no matter what they do to your body.",
"The most dreadful change was from the \"white on black\" scheme of old terminals to today's \"black on white\" screens--vastly increasing the amount of light coming from the screen and hence our inability to turn away from it.",
"The second was the use of \"pointing devices\" which has led to the development of a generation of people who have such asymmetry in their hands that they look like lobsters.",
"The conventional mouse was crafted through great engineering and marketing research to be compelling and hard to let go of, even though it leads your ligaments to freeze in a terrible position.",
"The logitech handed trackball (I can't recommend the more symmetric types) is the only pointing device that works with the construction of the hand of most members of homo sapiens.",
"The only part that is moving repetitively is the base of the thumb which is one of the stronger parts of the hand.",
"You will notice this if you try this trackball under normal circumstances.",
"But it is in tense circumstances that it comes into its own.",
"Grip a normal mouse the way you would if you were upset--say, you were just clicking open an email that you correctly guessed told you that you were fired.",
"Your hand is almost certainly twisted into a grip that will make you a natural Appalachian banjo player, but useless for pretty much everything else.",
"Now do the same thing with the trackman.",
"It actually relaxes your hand as you grab harder!",
"Thankfully, most of us don't get fired regularly, but we do have stress and lots of the stress comes precisely when we are using our pointing device--opening and selecting things.",
"Those of us with stressful jobs and trackmen will be beating all the other folks in the old age home at tiddlywinks, I can tell you that.",
"Further--and this is a bit disgusting but true--mice get dirty from hand sweat, and the more tension in your life, the more hand sweat.",
"For some reason computer manufacturers went for this dental-equipment beige color that really shows the dirt.",
"I sit down at someone's computer who has the original mouse and I don't want to touch it.",
"I'd rather wear their dirty underwear.",
"At least I can't see the grossness.",
"The scum that does build up over the years on the trackball is easy to remove--just pop out the ball (the newer versions don't have the retaining ring so just give the unit a smart tap upside down and out it comes like a glass eye!",
").",
"Finally, and maybe this is just me, but sometimes if you've been working late, the typical mouse DOES start to look like a real mouse.",
"Or a rat, since (thank G-d) there aren't many mice that big.",
"Like most of us, I've killed my share of mice and don't really like the idea of having to reach over and put my hand on their big brother.",
"The trackman, in contrast, looks a little bit like the face of a beluga whale seen from the side.",
"That's calming!",
"And if you're like me, when you're using a computer, you can use all the calm you can get.",
"[39]"
] |
Smashmouths first album. What more needs to be said? Smashmouths first and best C.D. out there, this is highly recommended! The guitars are great, the drums are great the bass is great, hell this album is great! I cannot stress this enough. The lyrics are also very amusing and fit the music perfectly. Now if they would only return to their roots...
(I can wish can't I?) | 2 | positive | [
"Smashmouths first album.",
"What more needs to be said?",
"Smashmouths first and best C.",
"D. out there, this is highly recommended!",
"The guitars are great, the drums are great the bass is great, hell this album is great!",
"I cannot stress this enough.",
"The lyrics are also very amusing and fit the music perfectly.",
"Now if they would only return to their roots...",
"(I can wish can't I?",
")"
] |
Officer James Reoser "Razor" has been slowly recovering from a horrific shooting. Razor was betrayed by a woman he cared deeply for. He has been trying to regain his edge ever since. Razor seriously doubts his instincts; they are what drive police officers. He is assigned a test of sorts; an undercover assignment to gain information from a beautiful woman while dancing with her on a television show. Shouldn't be too difficult, right?
Isabella has lived her life under the thumb of first her father, and then her husband. She never realized just how evil people could be until her husband shows her the dark side of his world. Isabella narrowly escapes her husband's clutches. She runs as fast as she can, she thrusts herself into the public eye so no one can touch her. Isabella finds the world full of things she has never experienced and she is eager to try them all starting with Officer James Reoser but she doesn't know if she can trust him.
Razor is hesitant to believe this beautiful woman is as innocent as she looks but when an attack almost kills her, he thinks he can. However, evidence keeps telling him that Isabella is as dirty as the people he is trying to put away. Without his edge Razor is afraid to go with his gut. Can he find it in time to save the woman he loves?
Razor's Edge is an intense spicy thrill-ride. From the opening page you are on the edge of your seat. Razor's Edge gives you a glimpse of the cruelty humans can cause each other but also shows you the gift of sweet innocence, and what a gift it is when given to the right person. Jayne Rylon definitely knows how to write gorgeous cops guaranteed to make you drool. Razor's plight is felt throughout the book. In the first Men in Blue book, Razor made a horrible mistake when he placed his trust in the wrong person. It almost cost his life and the lives of his friends. Razor's lack of confidence in his own decisions since then has affected his life greatly. Isabella is just the woman to help Razor regain his edge. She is a fierce fiery woman finally coming into her own, ready to conquer the evil surrounding her. These two make an exciting and sexy couple. Razor's Edge is a pulse pounding adventure in and out of the bedroom.
Miranda
For Joyfully Reviewed | 2 | positive | [
"Officer James Reoser \"Razor\" has been slowly recovering from a horrific shooting.",
"Razor was betrayed by a woman he cared deeply for.",
"He has been trying to regain his edge ever since.",
"Razor seriously doubts his instincts; they are what drive police officers.",
"He is assigned a test of sorts; an undercover assignment to gain information from a beautiful woman while dancing with her on a television show.",
"Shouldn't be too difficult, right?",
"Isabella has lived her life under the thumb of first her father, and then her husband.",
"She never realized just how evil people could be until her husband shows her the dark side of his world.",
"Isabella narrowly escapes her husband's clutches.",
"She runs as fast as she can, she thrusts herself into the public eye so no one can touch her.",
"Isabella finds the world full of things she has never experienced and she is eager to try them all starting with Officer James Reoser but she doesn't know if she can trust him.",
"Razor is hesitant to believe this beautiful woman is as innocent as she looks but when an attack almost kills her, he thinks he can.",
"However, evidence keeps telling him that Isabella is as dirty as the people he is trying to put away.",
"Without his edge Razor is afraid to go with his gut.",
"Can he find it in time to save the woman he loves?",
"Razor's Edge is an intense spicy thrill-ride.",
"From the opening page you are on the edge of your seat.",
"Razor's Edge gives you a glimpse of the cruelty humans can cause each other but also shows you the gift of sweet innocence, and what a gift it is when given to the right person.",
"Jayne Rylon definitely knows how to write gorgeous cops guaranteed to make you drool.",
"Razor's plight is felt throughout the book.",
"In the first Men in Blue book, Razor made a horrible mistake when he placed his trust in the wrong person.",
"It almost cost his life and the lives of his friends.",
"Razor's lack of confidence in his own decisions since then has affected his life greatly.",
"Isabella is just the woman to help Razor regain his edge.",
"She is a fierce fiery woman finally coming into her own, ready to conquer the evil surrounding her.",
"These two make an exciting and sexy couple.",
"Razor's Edge is a pulse pounding adventure in and out of the bedroom.",
"Miranda\nFor Joyfully Reviewed"
] |
Although I am a fairly new Nine inch nails fan, this record immediately grabbed me. An angry, heavy, short and complex effort from NIN is exactly what this is. When one opens this little EP of Trent's they are greeted to a rather unusual packaging as well as 99 tracks.
1. Pinion 3/5: an Intro that is so-so, it could have built up to a real song, but its alright as far as Intro's go.
2. Wish 10/10: Awesome, Sweet, Excellent and Kickass can all be used to describe this song.
3. Last 10/10: equally as sweet as the last track, this one sounds a bit like closer in terms of lyrics, its awesome.
4. Help me I am in hell 5/10: This is really the only flaw on the album, an Instrumental on an EP, that is neither grabbing nor boring but as it is only 1:56, it only serves as the buildup to the next song, and comes across to the listener as unnecessary and disappointing. A song like this doesn't belong on an EP.
5. Happiness in Slavery 10/10: almost forgives the last track, I just love the middle part of the song. The live version from the Woodstock 94 concert is cool as they added a solo and Trent demolished a keyboard.
6. Gave Up 10/10 yet another hard hitting track, which is very much like tracks 2 and 3 yet it stands on its own.
98. Physical (you're so) 8/10: a cool Adam Ant cover that outdoes the original but it is weaker in comparison to everything else here.
99. Suck 10/10 an awesome Pigface cover that outdoes the original.
This album makes a great companion to the Downward Spiral, filled with anger, excitement and complex and detailed musicianship brought to us by Trent Reznor. Even though there is an intro and a unnecessary instrumental, the other songs are just so good that I can't help but give this a 5/5. Broken is definitely a must have for any NIN fan, whether you are new or old. Hoped this helped. | 2 | positive | [
"Although I am a fairly new Nine inch nails fan, this record immediately grabbed me.",
"An angry, heavy, short and complex effort from NIN is exactly what this is.",
"When one opens this little EP of Trent's they are greeted to a rather unusual packaging as well as 99 tracks.",
"1.",
"Pinion 3/5: an Intro that is so-so, it could have built up to a real song, but its alright as far as Intro's go.",
"2.",
"Wish 10/10: Awesome, Sweet, Excellent and Kickass can all be used to describe this song.",
"3.",
"Last 10/10: equally as sweet as the last track, this one sounds a bit like closer in terms of lyrics, its awesome.",
"4.",
"Help me I am in hell 5/10: This is really the only flaw on the album, an Instrumental on an EP, that is neither grabbing nor boring but as it is only 1:56, it only serves as the buildup to the next song, and comes across to the listener as unnecessary and disappointing.",
"A song like this doesn't belong on an EP.",
"5.",
"Happiness in Slavery 10/10: almost forgives the last track, I just love the middle part of the song.",
"The live version from the Woodstock 94 concert is cool as they added a solo and Trent demolished a keyboard.",
"6.",
"Gave Up 10/10 yet another hard hitting track, which is very much like tracks 2 and 3 yet it stands on its own.",
"98.",
"Physical (you're so) 8/10: a cool Adam Ant cover that outdoes the original but it is weaker in comparison to everything else here.",
"99.",
"Suck 10/10 an awesome Pigface cover that outdoes the original.",
"This album makes a great companion to the Downward Spiral, filled with anger, excitement and complex and detailed musicianship brought to us by Trent Reznor.",
"Even though there is an intro and a unnecessary instrumental, the other songs are just so good that I can't help but give this a 5/5.",
"Broken is definitely a must have for any NIN fan, whether you are new or old.",
"Hoped this helped."
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.