Product Reviews

The Office (DVD)

2007-12-02T17:46:00.000-05:00

I love this show and I think NBC actually made one good decison this year by renewing it. Steve Carrell is genious as Michael Scott the manager with a little too much enthusiasm. The supporting cast is great and I'm glad that the bonus features are good because a 6 episode season of a half hour show is hardly worth twenty-two dollars but it's worth it. I didn't think the pilot was great but I tuned in again and I'm glad I did. I hope that if you don't watch this show that you decide to try it out because it is brillant. A lot of people say it isn't as good as the British version but it comes close. Check out Diversity Day it's the best in the set.

Discovery Planet Earth DVD

2007-12-02T00:29:00.000-05:00

Planet Earth was filmed on Seven continents. It took Five years and included a $25 million budget. Planet Earth is such an epic, that it earns comparisons to some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. I think High Definition Digest said it best "It's the Titanic of television nature documentaries - a work of great majesty, high ambition and huge financial risk (after all, this isn't a genre known for generating huge profits)." David Attenborough's narrates the series and does a great job at it. Planet Earth first started airing as an eleven episode series on the BBC in England late last year, and more recently on the Discovery Channel and Discovery HD here in the United States. With Planet Earth you will see beautiful landscapes of our planet, and amazing animal scenes all which will leave you either breathless, or at times put you on the edge of your seat. How some of these things were even able to be photographed by humans often makes you wonder. If you have a 1080p HD TV I highly encourage you to get the blu-ray or HD-DVD of Planet Earth. Only then will you will really appreciate the beauty of this amazing series.

I had originally purchased the blu-ray of this, but ended up also buying the DVD version of this because of all the bonus material included on it. Sadly the bonus material is not included on the blu-ray or HD-DVD versions.

KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer

2007-11-27T23:52:00.001-05:00

The mixer is good for doing an occasional bread recipe, and for other light tasks like whipping cream, mixing mashed potatoes, etc, but if you use it to make heavy or dry breads on a regular basis it isn't suitable. When I first received the machine I loved it. I liked the high quality metal construction, the provided attachments, and the reputation of the KitchenAid name.

Throughout the first year I had no trouble with it. I used the machine once every month or so; I tried a few of the loaves of bread from the included recipe book. I really enjoyed the machine, and it is quite powerful for its rated 250 watts.

Then I bought this wonderful book, The Bread Baker's Apprentice, by Reinhart. Only then did I realize how woefully inadequate this machine is for medium use. I started baking bread once a week, from a lighter ciabatta to heavy whole wheat breads and bagels.

The machine vibrates so much while mixing breads that I am afraid it is going to fall on the floor. The pin holding the tilt head on also works its way out, one of these days I am afraid it will fall out and the mixer head will fall off. While mixing dry doughs, like bagels, the motor strains so hard that it sometimes stops for 1 second at a time and makes buzzing noises before it finally is able to knead the dough. This causes excess heat in the motor that I am sure will cause premature failure (it has the electrical burn smell afterwards).

In the last few months the machine has quickly declined, and it is on its last limb. It is only a matter of time before the motor burns up or the gearbox fails. When it does fail I will probably fix it and keep it around as a meat grinder since it has the power take off unit that can run the meat grinder attachment. One of the nice things about these mixers is they are completely serviceable, but I will replace it with a DeLonghi (Kenwood) DSM7 that is better suited for my kneads (pun intended).

As I said, this mixer is excellent for light use, and for a single loaf (or 2 small loaves) of bread at a time. If you intend to bake bread frequently, it would be wise to invest in something heavier duty.

Breadman TR875 2-Pound Breadmaker

2007-11-27T23:50:00.000-05:00

This is truly the best breadmaker I have had in years. This is the seventh breadmaker I have bought. I have had Rival, Salton, Williams Sonoma and not to mention a very expensive one. This one tops all of them together. To start off with, it has a small size but makes a huge 2lb loaf. It is so quiet, that I had to keep looking if it was working. I have made 3 Cinnamon Raisin breads and 4 White breads and 1 French bread in the last two days. They all came out perfect. Also the body (exterior) of this one does not get as hot as the other ones so it can be put against a backsplash. This was the best purchase and I would recommend this machine to all who love a perfect loaf of bread.

Magellan Maestro 3140 Portable Auto GPS System

2007-11-27T23:47:00.000-05:00

I recently got the 3140 and have used it quite a bit. Overall, the device has really no significant downsides. The most important feature is the text to speech voice guidance. While the screen is small, the voice guidance keeps your eyes on the road and not on the gps unit. The routing engine is robust and has not given me any problems. Satellite lock is very fast and reliable. Obtaining position from a cold start reliably occurs in less than one minute. Route recalculation is very fast for local trips. This makes the device in many ways better than car-based navigation systems at a mere fraction of the price. I have not had problems with the device recommending U-turns when deviating from the recommended route.
Given the excellent performance, it is a close contender with Garmin. With the heavy discount on the price it should be a first choice.

Spiderman 3 - Widescreen DVD (2007)

2007-11-26T23:31:00.000-05:00

Everybody's favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is back and faces his greatest challenge yet in the exciting comic book smash hit "Spider-Man 3". Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) is finally enjoying his life. The citizens of New York City honors Spider-Man for his heroic actions and he feels ready to ask sweetheart Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) to marry him. Unfortunately, new villains seek to destroy the web-slinging hero and an alien parasite has attached itself to Peter's costume and changes his personality for the worse. Though not the brightest in the popular comic book franchise, "Spider-Man 3" is a crowd-pleasing superhero adventure that delivers plenty of humor and thrills. There are several moments when its complex storyline and too many supporting characters make this third installment feel long and sluggish. The summer blockbuster features some remarkable special effects and terrific action sequences. "Spider-Man 3" also stars James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Hayden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris and James Cromwell.

If you've enjoyed the previous fully-loaded releases of the smash hit franchise, "Spider-Man 3" Special Edition is a well recommended purchase. The 2007 summer blockbuster is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen format. Its crystal clear picture quality contains some bright colors and fine resolution. Its 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is first-rate with great clarity and intense surround effects. Its special features include several behind-the-scenes and SFX featurettes, photo galleries, Snow Patrol "Signal fire" music video, trailers, TV spots, blooper reel and two informative audio commentaries by director Sam Raimi, cast members and production crew. Overall, "Spiderman 3" Special Edition scores "B+".

Citizen Men's Calibre 8700 Watch #BL8030-53A

2007-11-26T23:28:00.000-05:00

I think this is a fine watch for the money. The directions appear to be a little more complex than they actually are. Pull out to the first click to set either alarm, time, local time, or calender. After you have moved the indicator to what you want to adjust, then pull out the rest of the way to actually adjust that item. On the con side the watch is a little heavy and the alarm is not very loud. So, unless you are a very light sleeper, it may not wake you up.

Lapinator Plus - Lap Desk Extra Wide - (Black) - Extra Wide

2007-11-26T23:24:00.000-05:00

I use my laptop almost daily and needed a way to keep it off of my lap. As many people don't know, a laptop is not really made to be used on you lap but on any desk or table. It's supposed to be a portable computer. Your laptop can overheat if it cannot "breathe" properly. That being said, I needed a way to use my laptop on my lap. I love the Lapinator. It keeps the heat of the computer away from my legs and puts the computer keyboard at a more comfortable angle. It's lightweight and thin enought to slide into my computer bag.

HP Pavilion DV6626US 15.4" Entertainment Notebook PC

2007-11-26T23:22:00.000-05:00

Having been a long time HP user, I researched other laptop brands but was lured right back in with (initially) this dv6660se's sleek appearance. The powerbook-esque keyboard and subtle design patterns on the glossy packaging is a joy to look at everyday. Easy to use, and even the built in software isn't as useless as stock programs usually are.

PROS: design, 2GB RAM, 250GB, Vista home premium (mine was 32-bit unlike above comment).
-Comes with 12-cell battery which is bulky but lasts at least 4 hours watching movies and listening to music. The battery also raises the laptop off the table, which helps with cooling.
-Roxio software for CD/DVD burning is sufficient, and its LightScribe software is easy to use.
-I wasn't too impressed with the LightScribe function as it prints light-medium gray text/images onto the CD - a little too light for my taste. But the technology is supposed to replace chemical damage your CDs would otherwise get from stickers and writing.
-I thought 14 inches would suffice, but 15.4 inches really make a difference in organizing my desktop and music folders, navigating through Excel spreadsheets, and obviously watching movies.

CONS: no bluetooth (I didn't think I'd need it but found it would've been helpful for a wireless mouse or keyboard, etc), and a little heavy for everyday portability. Although Home Premium is equipped for TV recording, you need to buy a separate TV tuner for that to happen.

OVERALL: GREAT product for its price, especially if you can find it on sale like I did. It is in no way a high end laptop but pretty darn good for everyday use. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being a lay user and 10 being very tech savvy, this would be perfect for up to 8.5

Private Parts (1997) - Howard Stern (DVD)

2007-11-25T23:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, this watered-down pseudo-autobiography has some genuinely funny moments, but for the most part PRIVATE PARTS fails to deliver the same raunchy "shock" available daily by listening to Howard Stern's syndicated radio show or by watching his cable telecasts. If I--your humble reviewer--wish to get Mrs. Mikels upset in a New York minute all I need do is tune in to a Stern TV broadcast, then watch this normally tolerant woman start foaming at the mouth.

Yep, couch time again.

Unfortunately, Stern's outrageous, misogynistic persona is neutered in this film--no doubt to appeal to a mainstream audience. But by softening Stern the character becomes a superficial parody; a "kinder, gentler" Howard is unappealing to both his fans and his dissenters. Granted, the movie depicts some of Stern's famous (infamous?) radio spoofs, but only as a device to show Howard as a disc jockey trying to break free from the bondage of management nimrods rather than the broadcaster's true psychological inclination.

Kind of takes all the fun out of the man, if you ask me.

On the positive side (and the film, as I've said, does have its moments), Stern is surprisingly comfortable and believable in front of a camera, and his unwavering loyalty to fellow broadcaster Robin Quivers is fascinating. But if you're looking for a real dose of Howard Stern I suggest you bypass PRIVATE PARTS and tune in to his cable show. That is, if your wife will let you.

Rickles' Book: A Memoir (Hardcover)

2007-11-25T23:46:00.000-05:00

Very entertaining and easy to read book! Each chapter is only a few pages in length and this book is full of so many interesting stories, that this becomes a real page turner! I laughed out loud many times! I especially enjoyed the stories about Mr. S. (Sinatra), the great Johnny Carson, and Don's friendship with Bob Newhart. I wish this book was longer because it is so enjoyable. I saw Don perform in Las Vegas about five years ago (great show!) and it was good to read and learn about his other side: his wonderful wife Barbara. This book is a real who's who of Hollywood. There just aren't performers like Don Rickles anymore. This is a very enjoyable book and I highly recommend it

Ocean's 13 - DVD (2007)

2007-11-25T23:42:00.000-05:00

The plot centered on a business deal between Willy Banks (Al Pacino) and Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) going bad. Willy led Reuben to believe he would be his partner in Willy's new Las Vegas Casino. Willy double-crossed Reuben which caused Reuben to have a heart attack. Danny Ocean and the guys devised a plan to get back at Willy. The movie takes us through their plan to ruin Willy by bankrupting his casino. In the middle of this plan, they run short of money and go to Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia from the first movie) to ask for money. Terry doesn't like Willy so he agrees with one condition. The condition was Danny & the guys have to steal a diamond necklace that Willy has in a display case. Willy had received this necklace the year before as a prize for winning the Best Casino award. Terry Benedict wanted to get this necklace because he knew how much it meant to Willy. A sub-plot was that Danny didn't want Willy to win this year's "Best Casino" award so they set up a plan to make sure he wouldn't win. **Spoiler** In the end - Danny & the guys succeeded at bankrupting Willy and stealing the necklace. Terry Benedict tried to double cross Danny by stealing the necklace from Matt Damon but Danny was ready and the guy stole a fake necklace instead. Danny donated the real necklace to a charity in Terry's name. The movie was entertaining from start to finish !

2007 Mongoose Domain Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

2007-11-25T11:49:00.000-05:00

Assembly of this bike is difficult unless you are a near bike mechanic. I'm not a bike mechanic by any means. Took me 10 hours to assemble this bike. If you buy this bike, calculate an extra cost for having a bike shop complete or inspect the final assembly. The actual bike itself seems good.

The documentation contains detailed and obnoxious legal language disclaiming all sorts of liabilities and warnings such as "Do not ride at night". So don't buy this bike if you will ever ride it at night. Thought I'd help out the marketing department by putting this important restriction in the review title. These legal disclaimers are all quite ironic as the assembly manual received is for the wrong bike. There's a legal quandary. Had the manual shown just a couple key photos of the final assembly, it would have saved me hours of time.

The bike was received in a damaged box. Most of the packing ties were busted out.

In conclusion, this purchase was a bad customer experience. Mongoose needs to pay as much attention to delivering a quality customer experience as they do in providing detailed legal disclaimers.

Senseo Douwe Egberts Coffee Pods

2007-11-25T11:47:00.000-05:00

Senseo recently released several flavored varieties. Having always been partial to hazelnut coffee and being the happy owner of a Senseo coffee maker, I just had to give this new flavor a try. Well, let me tell you... I'm hooked! There is so much rich flavor in this coffee it's hard to believe the drink is calorie-free. It has the complex, subtle, thick texture and flavor of a fat- and carb-laden drink. If you've been worrying lately about the effects of your daily Caramel Macchiato on your waistline (not to mention your wallet) you have to give this coffee a try. It's wonderful and guilt-free! The pods are a little more expensive than regular varieties (the package is the same price but there are slightly fewer pods per bag) but boy is it worth that little extra!

This flavor was all I needed to decide me to buy a second Senseo machine for my office. It's very quiet and doesn't bother my cube neighbors, and it's already paid for itself because I no longer spend a fortune at the coffee shop for mediocre coffee: I have my "candy bar in a cup" (to quote Paula) right at my desk.

Senseo has a winner with this one... Give it a try

Leonidas Belgian Chocolates

2007-11-25T11:43:00.000-05:00

Outstanding melt in your mouth chocolate. The dark chocolate is not bitter like many chocolatiers - it has the perfect blend of taste for any chocoholic. I've had many different types of chocolate from Belgium and can guarantee - Leonidas is the "Mercedes-Benz" of chocolatiers. The general assortment is an outstanding sampling of ivory, milk and dark chocolate. If you love dark chocolate then go for the dark chocolate assortment. You will not regret it. Also forget Godiva - it's medium grade quality.

Nintendo Wii

2007-11-25T11:37:00.000-05:00

This thing is AMAZING. We have been playing Wii Sports non-stop. Can't wait to get to the other games! So what sets the Wii apart? The feeling of being immersed into the game. Sure, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have all the technology advances built in to them. They are the cutting edge as far as graphics and video, but neither of those captured me as much as the Wii.

The Remote is what really sets it apart. You can't sit down and play this thing. So much for being a couch potato! You have to get up and MOVE. Second is the creation of Miis. You create your own profiles and can bring them with you to another Wii (if you can find somebody else with one). Last, is the compatibility with GameCube and the virtual console games. It's awesome that I can download games from my childhood.

The con is that you will spend lots of time playing!

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

2007-11-25T11:29:00.000-05:00

I LOVE it. I hated it at first and was really frustrated at the gameplay. I wasn't sure I liked the battle modes or the song list. Also, being new to the "Guitar Hero" games probably didn't help. With the help of my son I figured out the gameplay and I am now on hard. I think if I could figure out where the orange fret is I'd do better. The songs become more real as you progress through the levels as more notes are given.

BUT, this game rocks after I gave it some more time. It's my favorite of all the games now and I can't stop playing it. The battle mode is great and gives you more incentive to work harder. My son and I battled it out one night and we had a great time. He obviously won but it was time well spent together. It's not often there are video games that everyone can play regardless of age. All of my kids love the "Guitar Hero" games.

My husband and I started a band in the Co-Op Career mode and made it through Easy. We ended up buying the "Guitar Hero II" bundle for another guitar. I wish there was a way to get a wired guitar without having to buy the bundle.

I really don't care about the graphics since you can't see them while you are playing. But as I was watching my kids play I realized the character is really playing all the notes to the song. The attention to details like that really impressed me. I loved the new girl, Casey, as she was sexy without looking stupid.

I really don't like the flashing lights that pop up in some of the gameplay as I have epilepsy. Not enough to cause a seizure, but I did find myself twitching some. It's distracting and hard to find notes because you are blinded by the lights. I wasn't sure I liked the songs as I'm probably the wrong gender and demograhic, but they started to grow on me.

The Bourne Ultimatum - Movie (2007)

2007-11-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

I have got to say that I am so impressed with the entire Bourne series. They all have been packed with so much action and intensity. I wasn't sure if the third installment would hold up as well as the other two, but boy was I proven wrong.
This was such a great movie and fully cleared up how Jason Bourne wound up the way he is. I would 100% recommend this one especially if you enjoyed the first two.

300 (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2007)

2007-11-25T11:14:00.000-05:00

I went to this movie solely to see Gerard Butler as I am a huge fan. If he wasn't in it I definitely wouldn't have paid to see it at the theater and chances are I wouldn't have worked real hard to see it on DVD, either. It is not at all the type of film I normally flock to or enjoy, but I was more than pleasantly surprised at how much I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

This is probably one of the most visually appealing movies I have seen in a long time. It was like watching artwork come to life, a feast for the eyes. The acting was excellent; Gerard Butler was a strong and commanding lead as King Leonidas. He was a physically imposing warrior, leading his men to battle, yet there were surprisingly tender and human moments as well. Lena Headey managed to portray Queen Gorgo as a strong, powerful woman, while maintaining extreme femininity. King Xerxes was by far the most flamboyant of characters, his costume was of multiple piercings and jewels, he exuded arrogance and narcissism. A powerful man, who referred to himself as God, was made complete by his large size and deep voice.

I was expecting an overly violent blood bath of a film. Truth be told, I was surprised at its lack of violence. A lot of the violence is implied and then you see the flinging and spurting of blood. There were only a few scenes where I actually cringed or had to shut my eyes. There were even a handful of touching moments that made me weepy, another unexpected. The music was another unforeseen enjoyment. It flowed seamlessly from hauntingly beautiful chant like choruses to powerfully driven techno beats. I liked the music so much, that I remained after the movie to watch the credits and find out who did the soundtrack.

Is this movie historically accurate? Will the History Channel be airing it as a documentary meant to educate the masses on the Spartans, the Persians and the battle of Thermopylae? Absolutely not. I went to see a movie based on a comic book, loosely based on history and that's what I saw. 300 is a very entertaining movie and I will definitely be purchasing it on DVD.

Knocked Up (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (2007)

2007-11-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

First, a confession - I did not like another movie by this director, The 40 Year Old Virgin. But this movie was actually pleasurable, although it isn't stellar. If you believe that opposites attract when it comes to romance, you may find this believable. Basically, a goofball guy falls into bed with a far different type of person and she gets pregnant. That is the set-up for the rest of the movie. The main characters, guy and woman,play their parts relatively seriously, compared to the supporting actors (who go far to enliven this movie).
Anyway, this was a fine way to spend a night at the movies. The jokes come fast and furiously but you know what they say about humor - it can be tricky to create comedy that appeals to everyone. For me, this just wasn't above 3 stars in that department.
Some of you, I'm sure, will find this far more delightful than I did so I hesitate to discourage you from seeing it. As I noted above, I found this enjoyable, but it didn't stick in my memory for more than a few hours after leaving the theatre.

ASICS Men's Gel Nimbus 9

2007-11-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

This is the first pair of dedicated "running" shoes I've bought, and so far, they are a hit.

I've only been running seriously since the beginning of the year, when my elliptical machine broke down. Before then, I had just been alternating between a beat-up pair of skating shoes and a pair of mid-range Adidas cross-trainers. After I'd been running for a few months, I decided I needed to get some decent shoes.

The first thing I noticed was the comfort. The padding around the ankles and achilles is very soft but also quite supportive, like a foam neck-brace (bad analogy?). Other positive attributes are a well-ventilated toe and an overall snugness that I didn't get with my cross-trainers.

I'm still not entirely sure why running shoes are so expensive, but the lady at the store convinced me that these will last quite a while (over a thousand miles, I think she said, which means about 2 years for me).

Apple 80 GB iPod classic (Black)

2007-11-25T11:02:00.000-05:00

I decided replaced my Zen 30G player with the 80G iPod classic. The Zen is a great player but I have always preferred the scroll wheel for no-look menu and volume navigation. Also, I have always used iTunes for my Podcast catcher. I really wanted the tight integration with iTunes so I could better track new/unplayed podcasts versus old/played ones and just sync it with no fuss. The Zen software is simply no where near as complete as iTunes for managing Podcasts. There are other great podcast/RSS catchers out there but none of them are 100% integrated with the hardware the way that iTunes is with iPods.

That integration is the main reason I picked up an iPod. For about the same price as a Zune, you do not get the radio but you do get the best Podcast management in the biz.

On to the player...

This player is perfect for the way I use it. I listen to a ton of podcasts in the car, on the go, at work, and on my home stereo. I don't listen to podcasts when I work out but it I did I would NOT recommend the classic but a flash based iPod instead.

The classic has great sound, great battery life for music, and the best no-look volume control etc. Its also about 10 times faster to go from no power to playing than my older Zen:M was which is great. 80G is way more than I need but its nice to know if I go on a trip I can put a bunch of movies on there etc.

As far as the Cover Flow not working well, thats true but I would never use it anyway. For podcasts smart playlists are the only way to go. You can have playlists of Recent or New podcasts, unplayed, random etc. And the last played and play count synchronize with the iTunes which is critical and its all fairly easy to set up.

I also have it docked to my home theater which is a nice way to watch some video podcasts and charge it up. Having tons of accessories is also a huge benefit to getting any iPod. Sometimes being popular has real benefits. Take a look for Zune accessories and you will see what I mean.

As an example of how well this product works for me, I bought the iTouch and returned it because its simply to much of a pain to navigate and change volume if you use it in the car. Simply to clumsy for just listening to music. So if you are a podcast fanatic, and want the best playlist management and no-look controls, this is a great way to go.

Giro Indicator Sport Bike Helmet

2007-11-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

I went to Giro's website and read up on the company and it's history and thought I would try to see if I could find an "affordable" helmet thinking that these helmets were more "high end" and that most likely I would end up with a "cheaper" line but I was pleasantly surprised when I ran across one of these at a specialty bike shop for only $35! I tried it on and with the help of a wonderful sales person in the store had it adjusted to my head! The color I chose was white and found the fit and comfort of the helmet to be very good! So...I plunked down my $35 and tried it out that afternoon and love the feel and look! So for those of you looking for a name brand helmet at an affordable cost you can't go wrong with this line! Very pleased with my choice!

Daughtry - Daughtry (2007)

2007-11-25T10:55:00.000-05:00

I'm not fan of AMERICAN IDOL, but I tend to always check out the contestant albums over at iTunes when they're released, and Daughtry's self-titled album (a smart move for a rocker who built his initial following based upon name recognition of a TV show) is an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. Certainly, as is the case with almost any album, not all tracks are to my liking, but the entire roster is surprisingly solid, especially considering this to be a debut release. Some may inevitably gripe about comparisons to other bands -- Nickelback comes to mind -- and it would be easy to dismiss Daughtry on that argument alone, but you'd be missing some terrific tracks. Do like I do and sample the tracks first, and I'm sure you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised with "What I Want," a driving rock anthem featuring the legendary Slash. Also worth a listen are "What About Now," "There and Back Again," "Over You," "Home," and "Used To."

At a glance (or a quick listen), a few of the samples do sound a bit repetitive lyrically and musically. This is a weakness of the sampling system, though, and not the entire track. Having downloaded more than half the album this morning and given them a full run, I'm convinced that Daughtry is not only here to stay, but he'll be hanging around for some years to come.

Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera

2007-11-25T10:44:00.000-05:00

I've owned the Canon A20 and the A70 so it was a natural to upgrade to the A570IS. Just back from a fall trip to New England and the camera performed great. We got a set of 2650 mAh rechargeable batteries and they last for days in this camera. The pictures are rich in color and the movies with sound are excellent. The the large LCD screen, image stabilization, night and kids and pets modes make the camera very easy to use. The Canon software and cable make uploading the pictures to a PC the easiest I've ever experienced. By getting a new lens adapter for under $20 I was able to use the wide angle lens from my A70. This camera is a great buy.

Echoes Silence Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters (2007)

2007-11-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

The Foo Fighters have always been at the very top of the alternative rock scene as one of the most inovative. Thanks to now legenday Dave Grohl, this band has been filling our ears with powerful rock songs for over a decade. With their sixth studio release the Foo Fighters have reached new level. The twelve tracks have a sound at least I haven't heard from this band. They have more of a haunting feeling that leaves you in chills once the album is over. The music ranges from loud electric to very meloncholly acoustic. This is also the first time I have heard Dave Grohl scream alot since their grammy winning 'Colour & Shape.' This is truly a remarkable cd and it is definitely going to get alot of credit maybe even a grammy nomination. This cd pretty much lands Foo Fighters as a staple band in the history of music from the late 90s and with each new release it brings them closer and closer to the rock & roll hall of fame.

Shrek the Third (Widescreen Edition) (2007)

2007-11-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

"Shrek The Third" might lack the originality of the original film, but it's still a very good movie. Shrek is once again put into an uncomfortable position, except this time around he isn't trying to win Fiona's heart or impress her parents. This time he's been chosen to replace his father-in-law as the king of Far Far Away. He quickly finds out that there is one other potential heir to the throne called Arthur. Once he figures out where Arthur is located, Shrek, Donkey, and Puss set out to find the boy and convince him that he should be king. Before leaving, however, Shrek is weighed down with more pressure when he finds out that he'll soon be a dad. While Shrek's away, Charming gathers up all of fairytale-dom's meanest villains (including Captain Hook and the Wicked Witch from "Snow White") and stages a successful coup to become ruler of Far Far Away. Using Fiona and her friends as bait, Charming awaits Shrek's return in order to finish him off and become the rightful king.

I think the reason that many people dislike this film so much is that the spotlight shines considerably less on Shrek, Donkey, and Puss than it did it the previous films. Fiona, Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty (of "Beauty and the Beast"), Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty all get a decent amount of camera time. Lesser sidekicks like Pinocchio and Gingey also take the camera off of Shrek. Even Charming gets ample screentime along with his fellow villains. Does this make the film any better or worse than the others? Not in my opinion. In fact, the princesses add quite a bit of humor to the film (not to mention a sweet action sequence set to a cover of Heart's "Barracuda"). Charming and his companions also offer some fun moments. The addition of two other characters, Arthur and Merlin, also give the viewer more to laugh at.

I'll agree with others who stated that the fart jokes and other sophomoric humor can be excessive, but no more than in the other films. In fact, jokes like that got the children laughing more than in the other two films which, in my opinion, had more humor for the adults than this sequel.

All of the original voice talents make it back for the film, and a few new voices are added as well. These include Justin Timberlake, Eric Idle, and a few old SNLers. It's nice to see that SNL's castmates stick so close together.

Overall, this film is better suited for the youngsters when compared to the other films. However, that doesn't mean that the adults in the audience miss out on any of the fun. This will be a definite purchase when it rolls out on DVD. I recommend it as a buy.

Another new blog.... just what the web needs

2007-11-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

Hello, I'm Tony and I will be writing reviews of products that I come across in my everyday life. DVDs, Music, Electronics, Etc. I am open to coments so please feel free to do so at any time. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.