Sunday, 13 September 2009
Boat Rain Water Accumulating Protector - boat rain water accumulating pro, boat cover support
I have a 22ft crownline and ordered this size for it. It's a little to big but it works just fine. I actually didn't have the front tight enough and left for the weekend and it had rained. When I returned it was sagging down in the front but had a lot of water in it (boat was still dry). I finally got it out and tightened it up and haven't had any issues with it since. Well worth the money. Dryguard Waterproof Boat Cover - Model F - Boat Rain Water Accumulating Pro - 600 Denier - Boat Cover Support - Boat Covers'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
boat cover support - boat cover support, useless
Item works fine however they're only 2/3 as wide as the hardwood bows I used previously, so I had to get different sockets. Would've been nice if the description included the width. Also, the bow was not shipped with rubber end covers mentioned in the description. Taylor Made Products 924 72" Fiberglass Boat Cover Marine Support Bow - Horrible - Boat Cover Support - Useless - Boat Rain Water Accumulating Pro'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
boat cover support - boat cover support, useless boat cover support boat cover support - boat cover support, useless
Organizer
This is a really good desk organizer for a home office. I really love the trays, great for a cell phone, ipod, calculator, etc that you want on your desk but sort of out of the way. The bottom drawers a long and can hand pens, pencils and plenty of other desk items. It's built solid like other Safco products. Safco Model Organizer with Three Drawers, Black Onyx (3252)'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Organizer Organizer Organizer
Battery-powered Flashlights - penlight, streamlight
This little thing is thin, lightweight, solid construction, and cranks out more lux than I've ever seen from any other pen light. Incredibly handy and not heavy when you find it stuck in your mouth for 20 minutes looking for something that fell into one of those crevices under your car seat that is, for all intents and purposes, a black hole. You'll have a hard time finding AAAA batteries at most stores (not that you'll need them often as it runs A LONG TIME per set), but here's a trick. Peal open a good quality (copper top) 9 volt battery and inside you'll find 6 AAAA batteries that will fit!!! I will be getting one of these for each car since I've discovered this nifty trick!! For this price at amazon, it's a must have and great gift that anybody is likely to appreciate. Streamlight 65018 Stylus 6-1/4-Inch Penlight with Pocket Clip and White LED, Black
First, I've found all LED lights that make outragous claims of average battery life of dozens to hundreds of hours is either misleading or totally wrong... no matter what brand or where you bought them from. They either go totally dark in much less than half the rated time, or have gone too dim to even read large print with the light pressed closely to the page. To even get close to half the rated life, skip the alkalines, you must use expensive lithium or the highest capacity NiMi rechargables available on the planet.
So they all lie about or misrepresent your actual battery life. I'm sure some of them, if you put the most expensive batteries in the world in them, run the light almost to their rated battery life, if you take them into a fully darkend room, & hold the light to your face, strain your eyes, you will find the LEDs are still glowing very faintly... but that's not useful light.
I haven't found AAAA rechargables or lithiums, but you won't need them.
This is the only LED light I ever found that doesn't give you bull on battery life. It uses a single LED & 3 AAAA alkaline batteries that can be obtained cheap from many sources. Slightly longer than an oridinary pen, I take it everywhere, & is always with me at work. As an engineer, I've used it several times daily for over 6 months with the original batteries. I thought it might be getting a little dimmer so recently put fresh batteries in it. Although it got brighter, not significantly, so I put the old batteries back in. This light just won't die. Lot's brighter than any keychain light, it's as useful as most big lights. It fell 14' from a ladder onto solid concrete, into puddles, snow, & got paint & glue on it. Using harsh chemicals & scraping to get all the paint & glue off, it still looks & works like brand new. I don't know what they used to paint that light with, but there's not a scatch on it anywhere... no dents yet either. Solid & durable. Your best light will be the one that works when you need it to, & is close at hand. Best $14 I ever spent!
Update: AAAA Batteries can be found right here at amazon. Just type AAAA or streamlight in the search box. The streamlight AAAA 6-pack runs $6-$7 & are really alkaline energizers. Also if you tear off the metal around a "copper top" alkaline 9 volt battery with a couple of pliers you'll find 6 aaaa batteries inside. But beware... the AAAAs inside the 9 volt battery have the polarity reversed! So you must put those in your light BACKWARDS. You should also stretch the light's spring out a little for a tight fit & better contact. This won't effect it if you go back to ordinary batteries, just make sure to get the polarity right.
While not the brightest flashlight, The stylus is ultra dependable. I've had mine three or four years, it has bounced around my motorcycle bags on camping trips, sits beside my bed in case of power outages, etc. It is very usable lighting your way walking, tasklighting, etc. I would not use it to investigate a dark warehouse.AAAA batteries not too easy to find, but they last forever it seems.
Wow. This thing is bright. I actually bought this for testing ocular reflexes, but I'm a little bit afraid to use it on my patients (the package actually warns: "AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE").
It's a little long, but fits into a shirt pocket (or lab coat) fine. Solidly constructed. I haven't tried throwing it against a wall, but I think it would survive. The LED sticks out, so you could possible break that easily. I would recommend keeping the glare guard on (plastic sleeve that fits around the end of the light and shields the lateral edges of the bulb). Two convenient ways to turn it on: push button that you have to hold; or turn the cap and it will stay on. I just got it, so I can't comment on battery life. When I first received it, I immediately wrote a review saying that the light is very white. After having used it to look inside people's mouths, it's actually slightly bluish (it is more obvious when you use it to look at pinks/reds).
How does it compare to similar lights?
Coast Cutlery V16: nowhere near as bright as the Streamlight--but the Streamlight is almost twice as long, twice as thick, and weighs about three times as much.
Coast Cutlery V9: short (half as long as Streamlight) and stubby (about 50% wider), and maybe a little heavier than the Streamlight. Its light is pretty good, but still not up to the Streamlight's (its size is perfect for key chains though).
Eveready pen light: about the same thickness as the V9, but about twice as long. This is the heaviest of the bunch (probably because of the battery type--2 AAA's). It is not as sturdy as the others; but, as long as you don't do anything extreme, it will probably last you until the incandescent bulb dies. It is second in brightness to the Streamlight. Its light is much warmer in color temperature due to the incadescent bulb.
Overall, I would recommend the Streamlight over any of the others based on its incredible light output. If you want a key chain light, then I would recommend the Coast Cutlery V9 (or one of their other key chain varieties). - Streamlight - Led - Tools - Penlight'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Battery-powered Flashlights - penlight, streamlight streamlight Battery-powered Flashlights - penlight, streamlight
Neat Receipts - portable scanner, business card scanner
This thing is amazing. In an attempt to become organized I have been trying out new software and methods lately. After some research I decided to give this little gizmo a try. I figured if I hated it I could always return it. No such chance! I'm in love with this thing.
Anyway here it goes.... This thing slices, it dices, it does it all. It's so easy to learn that anyone can get the hang of it.
It has three sections. One for receipts, one for 'documents' and one for business cards. Each section lets me create folders. I created folders like 'Ty's Tax Write-offs' and 'Electronics' and 'Home Improvement' in the receipts section.
I click on a 'Folder' and place the receipt in the scanner and hit scan. It pulls the receipt through. It recognizes over 1500 major retailers like Best Buy, Target, etc. If it doesn't recognize it, you type in the business name. Here's a cool feature; the next time you scan a receipt from that company the thing recognizes the receipt and names it by the correct business.
It picks out the tax, the total amount on the receipt and then reads all the remaining text and it indexes it.
This means that if I bought my ipod and scanned it I can type in 'ipod' or 'apple' and it finds the correct receipt. It's awesome. I have started scanning in all of our receipts past and present. Before we visited our accountant I scanned in all of our tax write-offs and ran a report on numbers.
You can click on a particular receipt and it brings up a copy of it. You can print it, pdf it, etc.
You can search by category, business name, amounts, anything.
The documents section is handy too. I'm scanning in all our loan documents, home documents, legal documents, extended warranty information, etc.
The program is amazing and in my opinion that is really what you're paying for is the program. The scanner is pretty great too though. It pulls through receipts of any size and shape with little problem.
Essentially what you're getting is an amazing high tech filing cabinet for $200.
To those that gave it low ratings... it's technology. No it's not perfect, but it's pretty darned nice for the price. I scanned in probably 60 receipts in the first hour and I was just learning how to use it. I would have spent that much time just filing them in a filing cabinet. I had few problems and overall it recognized probably 85% of the vendors and prices correctly. NeatReceipts Professional Mobile Receipt and Document Scanner and Software Combination Version 3.0
I've had a NeatReceipts machine for awhile, and it has become an office tool I wonder how I lived without for so many years. It's great for tax records, expense reports, all that stuff, but the biggest difference it's made in my life is just GETTING RID OF THE PAPER! I had piles all over my desk for years. Cab receipts, travel receipts, charitable donation receipts, etc. Not just sitting on top of the desk, but in files and folders all over the place. When it came time to do the taxes, or do the accounting, sometimes I could find what I was looking for, sometimes I couldn't. The NeatReceipts changed all that. Now I just scan the piece of paper in, put it in the right file on my computer (or even in a Misc file, because it's easy to search and find later). I back up my computer regularly, so I never worry about losing the important data to back up my financial paperwork. And I've moved from a desk with big file drawers to basically a computer drawer and a couple of shelves.
I upgraded to the new 3.0 NeatReceipts because I figured they've known what they're doing so far, so I tried the new one. My favorite thing about it is the ability to produce pdfs easily. And I can scan in a pdf and edit the text. I was only able to do that previously by taking it to my brother in law and having him scan it and use some utility he bought for his machine. I haven't tried all the new stuff yet because I haven't gone through tax season yet, which is when my NeatReceipts really gets a workout. But the new version is much more searchable - like when I was looking for an Embassy Suites receipt the other day and could search on "Embassy Suites" and find it.
I highly recommend the NeatReceipts, and even more, I recommend enjoying throwing away all that paper.
I have been using the Neat Receipts product since its first release and with each subsequent release I can only say it just keeps getting better. The new scanner hardware is a great improvement on the earlier model and the changes to the database engine has made the day to day performance of the application rock solid. Though the OCR accuracy is not 100% it comes damn close considering the variety of receipt layouts and quality that I feed it. It does a superb job of recognizing and tagging the main data elements in a receipt and ignoring the individual line item amounts and sub-totals. It also does a great job of recognizing the form of payment and allowing the user to tie the receipt to a cash account or a particular credit card.
The software does have occasional difficulty with graphic logos on the receipts but the underlying intelligence will pick up the vendor name if it is somewhere else on the receipt. If there is no alternative to the graphic the field is left blank and highlighted. Since the image of the receipt is right next to the data it is a simple matter of reviewing and updating this field. The Neat Receipts software remembers vendors once they have been entered, so this edit is often as simple as entering the first few characters of the name and Neat Receipts will fill in the rest.
I use the product almost entirely for managing paper receipts for tax purposes. My accountant loves the fact that I no longer hand him a box of loose receipts. I now provide him with a printout of the receipts fully categorized. This alone has been worth the cost of the product many times over.
In addition to receipt scanning the application does a great job of scanning and managing business cards. In this area it is definately on par with other dedicated products that exist and is better than most.
Though document management is available as a feature of the product it is not the primary focus. The dpi quality of the scanner is sufficient to keep usable images of scanned documents and the software does a good job of categorizing and managing them. The dpi is also not so high that it creates a burden on processing overhead and storage that would come with a higher dpi.
I would highly recommend this product. There is nothing else out there that comes close to the features and sophistication of the Neat Receipts application. - Neat Receipts - Business Card Scanner - Scanner - Portable Scanner'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Neat Receipts - portable scanner, business card scanner scanner Neat Receipts - portable scanner, business card scanner
Do It Yourself - homestead
By any chance, have you, like me, wanted to be able to make truly useful things for years? Intended to convert to cleaning in a cheap, responsible way? But just kept finding books of recipes and tips that didn't deliver, were overly complicated, called for such a wide variety of ingredients, many obscure and expensive, that you started to doubt it'd save any money at all, even if you didn't botch a single thing? I mean, what's the point of trading out my very long domestic shopping list of items I can find at Target with an equally long list of items that have to be gathered from the far-flung corners of the globe?
This is not one of those books. This is brilliant in it's simplicity. The recipes and ingredients are so elemental, the authors might be the Prometheus of Home Ec. I've had the book for five days. Not only do I not need to buy half that domestic list anymore (and I imagine that will only grow as I work my way through more projects), but I don't know what I'm going to do with the stuff -the shaving cream, the conditioner, the toilet cleaner, the windex- that's already in the house because this homemade stuff is BETTER than the store bought junk. What I like best about this book might be how it's changed the feel of my whole place. There's life and processes everywhere: soap is curing, the hair rinse is steeping, seedlings are sprouting, herbs are growing. I look at things around my home and see new uses for them. I see something I typically buy and think "I could make that." There's something peacefully reassuring about this but more so it's a loud humming of anticipation, excitement, and almost manic creativity. After about 8 projects, I started thinking "There needs to be a recipe for solid perfume! I'd really love a recipe for throat lozenges! With honey! Oh, and ginger! And something to freshen the front loading washing machine so I don't have to buy those Tide packets!" Before this book, it wouldn't have even occurred to me to think that it was possible. So thank you.
A few more thoughts:
If you are an apartment dweller, and tired of being completely overlooked by other DIY books that assume everyone can compost and keep a few chickens, then you will especially appreciate projects 49 (Free Fertilizer from Weeds) and 61 (Worm Farming), neither of which require composting or manure. Worms will break down your apartment's kitchen prep scraps -your coffee grounds, spent tea, egg shells, carrot peels, the lettuce you forgot about in the produce drawer; they are an especially elegant solution if you happen to have a garbage disposal that regurges ground up food into your dishwasher during the rinse cycle (your landlord may insist it's because you don't clean off your plates well enough, but s/he's wrong). For apartment livestock, you might borrow from their other book The Urban Homestead (Expanded & Revised Edition): Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City (Process Self-reliance Series) and consider pets with benefits, such as a rabbit or a few quail. Like chickens, rabbit manure is wonderful for plants. Unlike chickens, theirs doesn't have to be composted first but can be used as is or passed through the worms first (it's like they were designed with renters in mind; some people even attach a worm bin underneath the rabbit's hutch so the waste transfers itself). A few quail will keep you supplied in adorable eggs for your Bento box lunches. But back to this book: You may also get good use out of Project 56 (making your own seedling flats); they make a compelling case for seeds ("cheap", "disease-free", and "better variety") and I appreciate that the flats are wood (I'm squeamish about growing food in plastic). There isn't anything I've found on container planting in here; they do discuss pots and self-watering containers in The Urban Homestead. At the moment, after gleaning a few tidbits from the book Apartment Gardening but otherwise not getting much out of it, I am using Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces to keep my newly acquired herbs alive and I love it; it covers companion planting, mulching, various DIY fertilizers, and more. If that is an aspect of Making It that turns out to really get you going, I so far enthusiastically recommend it (and will post an update if some disastrously bad advice emerges one day). Essentially, the book FOR apartment farmers still has yet to be written, but Making It does more than the other homesteading books presently on my shelf and adds a few more pieces to my collection of apartment solutions. Martha Stewart has a simple system for watering your plants when you're out of town involving just a bucket of water and one piece of rope per pot; the Windowfarms Project, which I only just saw today (May 28, 2011) in Urban Farm magazine, is jaw-dropping. An expanded section of more of these kinds of innovative no-yard ideas would be wonderful in a second edition of this book.
For the home brewing and mead making sections, I handed the book off to my husband. He said it was as thorough as something this brief can be -the technicals are all there. To give you a specific example of what he means, Step 18 ends with "Keep the end of the hose at the bottom of the carboy to minimize splashing the beer around." That's perfectly true, but it might be helpful to know that they're not just talking about minimizing mess; splashing and sloshing will make the beer taste (in my husband's words) "like cardboard." So, if you are good about reading through a project before you begin and diligently following the instructions (like my husband), you'll have no trouble. If (like me) you usually have to be told "No, really, this is important and here's why", you may need a book or mentor that allows for that kind of expanded information.
For the chicken sections, I sent a copy of the book to my father-in-law, who already keeps chickens and built his own coop. He said the guidelines are solid and the diagram on pages 264-265 is very much like his chicken coop. It is worth noting that Project 65 Build A Chicken Coop is just guidelines by which to build a chicken coop, not step by step instructions of the Tab A Slot 1 nature; for floor plans, we would suggest BackyardChickens dot com. June 20, 2011 Update: Now that we are looking at building a chicken coop ourselves, I'm finding their guidelines extremely helpful. I can use their "what we like about ours, what we'd design differently if we had to do it over again" insightful as I look at the many 'floor plans' available online. I can weed out duds easily instead of having to learn about their flaws the hard way. July 7, 2011: A Tuff Shed fell into our laps recently, which we will be modifying into a hen house, making me further realize the wisdom behind Project 65 being advice rather than a single one-size-fits-no-one floor plan.
Only 1 suggestion for the next edition:
Multiple Indexes. I like the way the book is organized; arranging projects from easiest to hardest really does let you try several things the moment you get the book and they are every bit the "gateway projects that may addict you to a more homegrown lifestyle." But after that initial introduction, an index that organizes projects by utility (Medicine & Comfort, Cleaning & Laundry, Kitchen & Entertaining, Grow It) and an index of materials and ingredients (I bought, say, coconut oil for laundry soap and it would be nice to see at a glance that I can also use coconut oil for lip balm, creams, and the shampoo bar) would be very helpful. This would also show potential book buyers exactly where these projects will save them money, direct them to the projects that might be of greatest interest to them, and show them that if they were thinking about buying, say, some beeswax for a lip balm it will have many other uses to justify the purchase.
Consider getting a notebook in which to record prices (I suggest a notebook because as of July 25, 2011 the few pages I'd started with no longer keep up with the homesteading renaissance going on over here). Take soap for example. I can write down what price per ounce my body wash or bar currently costs in one column and then record the price per ounce of each ingredient (then divide by the number of ingredients to get the per ounce cost of the finished soap) in the soap recipe I'd like to try. Instantly, I can see how much money I'm saving or, if I don't quite like the margin, I can, say, look for a cheaper lye before I begin.
Otherwise, unless the authors have ideas on harnessing solar energy using nickels and paperclips with which I can power my laptop, router, modem, and cell phone, I'd call this book complete ;) Or perhaps a hand-crank turn table for an odds-and-ends gramophone.
If you want a head start on gathering supplies for projects 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 24, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 42 (for projects 6 and 35, add fresh herbs; for project 25, add Borax; additionally, Borax is optional with some of the 16 recipes contained in project 24 ) while you wait for your copy to arrive in the mail, I would suggest the following (much of which you may already have):
INGREDIENTS
liquid castile soap (a little will last you a while)
baking soda (the biggest, cheapest per ounce box you can find)
white distilled vinegar (biggest, cheapest per ounce you can find)
beeswax (5 oz should cover deodorant, salves, creams, lip balm, and furniture polish at least, as well as a solid perfume if you're interested)
lye (7 oz will make a batch of olive oil soap, a batch of shampoo bars, and a batch of laundry soap bars)
olive oil (biggest, cheapest per ounce you can find)
extra virgin olive oil (just what's already probably in your pantry should be fine)
flaxseed oil (24 oz is plenty) besides furniture polish, you can also use this for DIY leather cleaner and for seasoning cast iron; see customer images
coconut oil (23 oz)
castor oil (5 oz) -ONLY required for the shampoo bar, though I'll be trying it in some balms
rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree essential oils to start if you want to make the shampoo bar and deodorant. Otherwise, everything turns out lovely even unscented. As the essential oils are the most expensive thing (though they at least go a long ways), it's nice that they're entirely optional.
100 proof alcohol (ONLY for bug repellant and making medicines by tincturing herbs)
cream of tartar & a little powdered sugar (ONLY for the mints)
EQUIPMENT
a blender (necessary for soap making, very convenient for skin cream)
a digital scale (for soap making, but you may also find it useful in recipes calling for beeswax which is easier to measure by weight than teaspoon)
a stir stick, like a spare disposable chop stick or a paint stirring stick from a hardware store (necessary for soap making, convenient for balms and creams)
dishwashing gloves (only for soap making)
something to act as a mold, like an empty milk carton (half gallon, quart, even just a few creamer cartons; only for soap making)
a little pot with which to boil water (in which, for some recipes, you can fit a pyrex measuring cup)
a pyrex measuring cup in which to melt small amounts of ingredients double-boiler-style
if you haven't already, pick up a pack of microfiber towels (like a few of the orange and white ones from the auto section at Target). They trounce paper towels when it comes to cleaning anything.
a few canning jars with lids are nice but pyrex, tupperware, or a clean jar that you were about to recycle will work just as well
USEFUL JUNK
I've begun setting aside one or two containers of various types as I run out of things -Mrs Meyers spray bottles and one or two empty canisters that previously held Mrs Meyers counter scrub, a mint tin, a pump top spritzer bottle that used to be full of California Baby Detangler, and a few small tubs that were once The Body Shop's Body Butter, Burts' Bees Belly Balm, Badger Winter Wonder Balm -even pint-sized gelato tubs- to hold lotions and lip balm. You can also refill chapsticks and deodorant sticks. Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World - Homestead'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Do It Yourself - homestead homestead Do It Yourself - homestead
Dress Watches - automatic, dress watches
This is a great watch if you need to look elegant for a special occasion or your doing business with the suits. There are a couple of minor draw backs to this watch though... The casing is very thick so be prepared, and the clasp for the watch will scratch the inside of your wrist the first few times you wear it. I did notice a lot of reviews complaining about how "difficult" it is to set the second time zone, well if they took 3 seconds to read the 2 sentence instructions they would find that it is very easy to set and keep accurate ( I live on the East coast and use my 2nd timezone for pacific since I do a lot of business with that timezone). Overall great watch for the price, and it looks like I'll be keeping this one for a long long time. Stuhrling Original Men's 127.33151 Boardroom 'Emperor' Dual-Time Zone Watch
This watch is elegant and was worth the money paid for it. The reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 is that is is hard to set the times in both zones. Once you set the time in the larger clock face, and then start to set the time in the smaller clock face, the time in the larger clock face moves too. This can be a problem as if you do not wear the watch constantly, it stops working and needs to be reset.
I bought this when it was available and on sale for $200. It was worth every penny. I agree with the other reviewer, that the picture that makes it seem like there is a blue dial is misleading and I was happy to read that because I prefer it with a more subtle look. The watch is really well constructed and the design reminds me of a pocket watch, which is part of the reason I bought it. It's very unique and yet classic looking. Also, the band is great because even though it is a leather band, the clasp functions like a those of a metal band, meaning it has the convenient 'pop-lock' function and so you only have to set it to your wrist size once, as opposed to a standard strap that you have to loop in like a belt every time you wear it. No need to worry about a battery as this powered by wrist action which you can see working from the front and back of the watch, very cool.
Overall, great watch for a great price.
This is a very handsome watch, interesting design. My only comment would be that the picture makes the irridesence on the dial look blue whereas in reality it's silver and not that reflective. But still a nice-looking watch.
I am stationed in Afghanistan, I collect Time pieces. When I was in Dubai on R&R I saw a Very similar time piece in a gallary at Dubai mall again Very Similar. I was looking on amazon at watches and I saw this watch and was amazed at how much it looked like the one that I saw in Dubai Mall and for a frection of the cost, The same style but this one was a chronograph with date. Anyway when I look at this watch in person ....by the way it got here pretty darn fast for an APO Adrress.... the watch is beautiful down to the deployment clasp, very detailed and a three year warranty to boot. EXCELLENT!!
The guys here are online right now looking at you timepieces... yep....Excellent
One of the reasons I selected this watch over some of the other Stuhrling options was that the Amazon description said it was water resistant to 100m/330 feet--which should allow for most swimming and snorkeling. Well, I get the watch and on the back of the casing, it says that it's actually only water resistant to 50m, which is only good enough for swimming in shallow water. This is going to make this watch a somewhat inconvenient present for the person for whom it was intended. This product information should be updated to reflect the difference. I haven't decided whether I want to return it yet.
I just got my watch today. In the photo, the face looked black with blue trim. In actuality, its grey with a marble colored trim. Stuhrling Watches are good quality. I have a couple of them. This watch certainly does have an elegant look to it, so I will keep it. But beware, it does look different than the picture online.
After seeing the reviews, I really thought that this watch would be a great Christmas gift at a remarkable price. Unfortunately, I was so disappointed when I received it. The packaging is horrible - bright orange pleather with gold foil lettering. There was a number of offers/fliers/certificate -looking items within the case itself that I really didn't pay attention to the watch right away. I considered going to find another watch box or purchasing a watch valet as an additional gift to go along with it. The watch design was interesting, but not classy or sophisticated. The packaging actually alarmed me enough that there was no way that I believed that this watch was from a Swiss-legend or luxury. That lead me to a Google search. This watch is all over the internet listed as $1000K+ retail but on sale for $200+. As a matter of fact, ALL of their watches are marketed this way. And by the way, this watch is made in BROOKLYN. You can find them being hocked in Chinatown for $10. Like, I said, this was going to be a gift for Christmas. I really wanted it to be thoughtful and well crafted. This watch was not what I was looking for. It looked 'cool' but not authentic and the color of the dial was different then shown. Nothing about it impressed me. If you don't care about the packaging and you just want something interesting to bop around in, then this may be the watch for you. I was looking for a watch that would start a collection and this was not it. Instead, I purchased a Hamilton JazzMaster. Rich watch making history, unbelievably well-crafted and a timeless, classic design.
The watch is very pretty: one of the nicest looking watches that I have seen. Unfortunately, it didn't work. It gained about 15 minutes in an hour such that it ran hours fast in a day. I was disappointed, but I returned it. It was a bit of a surprise. It's the most expensive watch I've ever purchased and it was the least accurate that I've ever owned.
Also, it was a bit overpackaged. It came in this giant orange box inside a black cardboard sleeve, but could easily have been packed more efficiently. - Automatic - Casual Watch - Dress Watches - Watches'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Dress Watches - automatic, dress watches casual watch Dress Watches - automatic, dress watches
Blemish Control - blemish control, cleansing pads
I don't really have many complexion problems, but I do break out on occasion. I decided to try these on a whim. They work well, they get your face clean. They are very intense however. I cannot use them everyday or else it overdries my face, I also recommend a facial moisturizer to apply afterwards or else your face is going to overproduce oil to overcompensate. I use it every 3 days or so and rely mainly on exfoliation and an everyday facial wash.
For the price its great, listen to your body, you may not need something as extreme everyday. Oxy Maximum Daily Cleansing Pads, 90 pads (Pack of 3)
Although marketed for teenage boys, I am a woman over 40 who loves using the Oxy products. Using the face wash, cleansing pads, and spot treatment has helped to keep my face clean and clear. And, my face knows when I have messed up the system! I also use the scrub to help keep my skin exfoliated. As always, I like to mention that these products should NOT be used by those with sensitive skin. But, if you have stubborn acne, Oxy could be just what you need. And, it is much cheaper than ProActiv while being more effective (at least for me). The packs offered at Amazon are a great bargain and good way to ensure that you don't run out of product!
I was desperately looking for a solution for my Acne problem, so I went to my local drug store and I decided to try 3 deferent brands of anti-acne cleansing pads. Seriously, Oxy is the winner. I am away from home more than 12hrs a day, so I take my Oxy with me. I used the pads 2-to-3 times a day. It seems there are several types of OXY, I am using the OXY Maximum (the only type I have ever used) - and it is working for me greatly.
Oxy Maximum is very strong and Oxy suggests that you wash your hands after use. However, for me washing my hands was not enough to prevent my fingers' skin to excessive exfoliation. Problem went away after I started using Latex Free Disposable-Vinyl Gloves.
I would recommend you to give a try this product and hopefully you will find it helpful.
this is good for your skin and as a cleanser --- however the pads stick together and it is difficult to take just one. also, i left the container on it's side so that the medicine could soak through all the pads and it began leaking --- i.e., flawed...
I've used these to maintain my skin / treat problem areas for years now, and I'm really pleased with them. I tried to go without using them for a while to give my skin a break from the harsh chemicals, but I'm coming right back to them because my skin is flaring up and nothing else seems to help!
My son has been using the Oxy Pads since he started having acne. Even though his acne has cleared up, he continues to use these to keep his face/pores clean. I like the fact I can order 3 in a package to save time and money.
This is an essential weapon in my acne arsenal. Pro-Activ doesn't work for me. Salicylic Acid does better for me than the Benzoyl Peroxide in Pro-Activ. After washing your face, use these pads to remove additional grime, unclog pores and leave acne fighting protection.
This is a decent price but you can catch it on-sale at the big box stores for less. Me and my teenager BOTH use it so we need to have it on hand.
this is a great for cleaning you skin every day, how ever if you want something that is more powerful to get rid of you zits(instead of just keep them from coming back like this product) I would suggest something with benzoyl peroxide in it.
I have not used this yet, but I have heard many good things about it. I have mild acne, but i still would like it gone. I use proactive and it got rid of most of the acne I had but a few spots it just doesn't seem to get rid of. I love how I got 3 of these for this price, the only thing I DID NOT LIKE was that I had to sign for the package so when I re order I have to make sure I will be home when it comes. - Clean - Cleansing Pads - Acne - Blemish Control'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Blemish Control - blemish control, cleansing pads cleansing pads Blemish Control - blemish control, cleansing pads
Nail Gun - nail gun, senco
I bought one of these guns recently as a replacement for another nailer. I put in thousands of feet of crown moulding every month and have yet to have any sort of misfire or double nailing. It also sets the head of the nail comfortably below the surface each and every time. ...Yet another great SENCO tool! Senco FinishPro 42XP 15 Gauge 1-1/4-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch Finish Nailer with Case
I am a pro contractor who builds fine homes in the Lake Tahoe area.
Senco sets the standard by which all other nailers are rated. I have the new FP41XP and I love it. My old SFN40 is still going strong after about 10 years of heavy use. I had a Bostich (Stanley ) finish nailer before but I found it underpowered compared to the Senco. The nails used for the Bostich are inferior too. The so called galvinized 16Ga Bostich nails rusted easy. Senco nails are the best quality. The galvinized nails look like stainless and will not rust. The tip is easy to un jam if you hit something hard and bend a nail. The nailer has enough power to easily set a nail into 5/4 white oak. The gutless Bostich could not set a nail into 5/4 white oak.
This is a great nailer. It is both smaller and lighter than the SFN40 which is (was) the standard by which all other finish nailers are compared. One outstanding feature of this tool is that it is very quiet, while still able to drive and set 2.5" nails with ease. The depth adjustment and exhaust vent settings work just like other SENCO units, so no complaints there. You cannot go wrong with this unit.
It took a little sorting out to realize that this nailer is Senco's primo finish nailer. We have had a FSN30 on the job, and I was tired of having air shot into my face so I purchased this simply for the feature of an adjustable air deflector. It was worth the purchase! The FP41XP has more going for it than that-- more power, holds both more and longer nails and they load and unload MUCH MUCH easier. The spring that puts tension on the nail strip to feed nails hasn't been sticking as the FSN30's did. Has a good grip and feel, shoots accurately, easy to adjust depth of nail set, and haven't had a jambed nail to clear yet after several weeks of near-constant use, nor a miss-fire. Not all Senco nailers are created equal, and this is one of the best ones I have used.
I own quite a few nailers, and in my opinion this is really a top-of-the-line nailer. The oil-free design is great, it has a lot of power, and is light and convenient to use. This nailer has never jammed on me, but removing a jam is easy thanks to the flip-open front. Setting the nail depth is also easy.
One thing to note is the nails are specific to this gun, so make sure you can get nails at a price that's affordable to you. Another is if you set a nail too deeply you'll notice an elongated depression where the drive pin kissed the wood. I suppose another thing to keep an eye on is your supply of nails, as you go through a clip rather quickly due to the ease of use of this gun.
Summary: The nailer costs a bit more than others and is well worth it.
I have used this for finger jointed crown, finished 2x fir, and tacking up pre-hung doors. It sets doors like a champ. Just don't rely on the nails to hold up over time; do the screw in the hinge trick and you are good to go. Love the feel and balance to it, love the nail loading style and the impressive power it has.
I have been considering this Senco gun. This spring, Senco filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and sold off almost all of it's assets. My local tool repair facility told me they are having a very tough time getting parts now and was not confident about the future. Too bad , they made good tools. So just beware. If you purchase a Senco there's no assurance that parts will be available. Many of the more consumer-oriented and Chineese/Taiwanese import brands have very short-lived parts availability. They are meant to be used by homeowners until they break then thrown in landfills. It remains to be seen what happens to Senco long-term. If anyone has updated info, please respond to this.
There is not alot to a finish nailer. I want it to cositently sink nails at the proper adjusted depth, be easy to clear if it jams( in about 100,000 nails this has jammed three times, all by hitting a hidden drywall screw) which is absoutely amazing. I would think its about ready for a service but it still works well so i keep firing away. Oh and i also want it to feel good in my hand and fire smoothly. Also adjustable exhaust is nice. This does all of the above so it wins iv used others and this feels the best and fires the smoothest.
I've wanted a finish nailer for years and finally got the Senco FP41XP. I just use it around the home and farm, and I've found that it works fine with an air bottle for a quick repair out in the back 40. I designed and built some Craftsman style lighting fixtures out of redwood sticks, basically, and the only way I could assemble it without splitting was with the Senco. The nails seem a bit expensive, but it's very easy and convenient to change sizes back and forth, no tools or adjustments required. Depth of seating is very consistent in different materials...surprisingly so, to me at least. It speeds projects up more than I would have thought - since I do most projects without a helper, I can hold the work randomly in place with one hand and "bam" it's fastened. There's no need to position and clamp for each fastening operation. Also, if you drive a few nails for just a temporary holding operation, it's easy enough to pry the fixture apart when needed, with only minimal holes in the work. - Senco - Nail Gun - Best Finish Nailer - Oil Free'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Nail Gun - nail gun, senco best finish nailer Nail Gun - nail gun, senco
Ipod Accessories - mirror, ipod touch
The screen protectors included in this pack really do work as advertised -- they turn your iPod Touch into a mirror. You can see very clearly in the mirror, and there are no odd visual effects when using the protector as a mirror. The screen protector fits very well, and holds onto your screen just fine. It also seems to be quite durable -- I have few noticeable rough spots on the screen.
The problem with these screens is that they cause pretty heavy discoloration of the screen if you look straight at it. You'll see plenty of hues of green, orange, and red. You'll also want to turn up the brightness on your ipod. The protector noticeably darkens your screen. My flashlight app doesn't work as well as it used to.
Overall, I like these mirrored protectors, but I'll probably get a plain old clear protector next time. Yeah, it's a cool novelty, but I'd rather save on battery life and see my screen clearly. 3-Pack Premium Reusable LCD Mirror Screen Protector with Lint Cleaning Cloth for Apple iPod Touch 2nd Gen 8GB 16GB 32GB
I ordered these things a week ago, and I got them in 3 days. Once I put them on my iPod, I noticed that they felt smoother than any other screen protector I have used. Also, the mirror looks great, but the is a little problem with glare if any light is reflected by it. Other than the relectiveness, these screen protectors are great, and the price is even better
The screen protectors came in around 4 days, really fast! Having 3 was great for when people saw mine and wanted one of their own. I gave one away and I have the other stowed away fro when i need it. The on i put on my ipod works great and wasn't hard to get on, but i am pretty good at that, either way you should not have too much of a problem.
Pros: Works great as mirror, Easy to see through when screen is on, Gives ipod touch style.
Cons: Scratches easily(not the actual screen but the screen protector), May be hard to see through in sunlight, Easily gets smudged
Overall I'd say the good outweigh the bad for me. I recommend the mirror screen protectors!
These screen protectors are really sharp!! I have had several people ask me about it. When the device is off, it looks like a mirror or stainless steel covering. But when you click the button, the display projects right through.
There are a couple of downsides to this product none of which are deal breakers for me though.
First, they are a bit tricky to apply. I messed up on my first try and had to throw that one away and use a second one. My second attempt was successful with the exception of a one small bubble. The bubble is not noticable at all because when the device is off, all you see is a mirror. And when you turn it on, the display conceals the bubble.
Second, the mirror finish atracts ALOT of smudge marks and fingerprints. I haven't scratched it yet but I'd assume that any scratches would be very visable. So I end up wiping it down frequently.
Othere than those issues, this is a real nice product. And like I said, neither of those issues were deal breakers for me. Because the price is soooooo low, I already ordered four more packs!
Oh I almost forgot, the shipping is pretty slow. I don't remember how long exactly, but it was well over a week.
Pros: ITS AWESOME! AMAZING! SUPER MIRROR. almost gotten my itouch taken away in class, i said it was a mirror and was using it for a mirror and turned off the screen, he saw it and gave it back to me. also a + for me is that the itouch looks 3d now... awesome!!!! oh and its super strong and its like a armor for my itouch screen. theres no way i can scratch it. i would give 7/5
cons: hard to see during day time, have to turn up the brightness on itouch. Kills battery cause of that fact.
i honestly would have payed 15$ for this. after trying i would pay 25$ but for 2$ for 3 i almost pee'd myself :)
These are cheap and great protectors for your ipod. They do however make the screen very dark! I have my settings on low brightness and i had to turn it up all the way to about 2/3's just so that i was able to see. That is why i gave it a low rating other than that its really cool how they reflect and double as a mirror.
The screen is very reflective, which is nice, but if you try and use your ituch in the sun you can hardly see anything. Also the material scratches easy, but hey, for the price I could replace the screen every week. Oh, one more thing. If you are wearing polarized sunglasses you won't be able to see the screen at all if your Ituch is upright, but if you turn it side ways the polaritys cancel out and you loose all reflection, which means you can see the screen fine. - Mirror - Ipod - Ipod Accessories - Ipod Touch'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Ipod Accessories - mirror, ipod touch ipod Ipod Accessories - mirror, ipod touch
Windshield Wipers - razor blade, rainx
The product I bought did not work for my Toyota's style of wiper arm. The kit that came with the wipers would not affix properly to my wiper arm. It showed that it worked with many different types of wiper arms and it came with about 3 different attachments.
The product seemed pretty nice albeit a tad expensive as I never got a chance to see it in action.
I ended up getting a OEM replacement for less. RAIN-X LATITUDE WIPER BLADE -- 18"
this blade's design is ok. supposedly it's the longest lasting all-season wiper blade. from my experience, I bought the 18in and 26in, and its smooth and quiet. The negative draw back: It smears at some portions. The contact to the windshield is not uniform. - Razor Blade - Rainx - Wiper Blades - Wiperblade'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Windshield Wipers - razor blade, rainx wiperblade Windshield Wipers - razor blade, rainx
Moms Choice Award Winner - downs syndrome, special needs
I am the father of an 18 year old daughter with DS and am physician in chief of Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. GIFTS is one of the most inspiring books I have read. And I am not noted for being a warm, fuzzing, sensitive guy; in fact, recently my wife said that I scored quite low on the "sensitivity scale." I have given copies of GIFTS to about 50 new parents of babies with DS at our IDSF (Indiana Down Syndrome) and DADS (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome) functions and when babies with DS have been admitted to Riley Hospital, usually for open heart surgery. The response from these parents has been one of the most amazing things I have observed. One mother told me that this book is exactly what she needed when she was having such emotional difficulties shortly after the birth of their new baby. I bought another 100 copies of GIFTS and will give a copy to any parent of a baby with DS or who is pregnant with a baby with DS. Rich Schreiner, Indianapolis IN
Rich Schreiner | 06.14.07 - 9:45 am | Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives
As a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, it's very hard to find "inspirational" stories. All the physicians have negative viewing materials.
This book allowed me to know, I'm not alone, it's not all bad and what a wonderful experience we all can experience if we'd shut our mouths and open our minds.
I picked this book up and could not put it down. Even writing about it now I am crying.
I am a sibling of a Down's Syndrome Child who became a Down's Syndrome Adult. My brother died in April and it is still difficult to not break down every time I see a person with Down's Syndrome because I miss his presence on the planet.
The book is exceptionally honest. I was glad to see the book didn't back away from the question of termination of pregnancies when it is determined the baby has Down's. I was afraid it might be all like a fairy tale, "Look how happy we are with our special needs child!" and while the stories generally focused on the upbeat and gift-filled endings, there was a lot of truthfulness in the struggle.
It also shared of marraiges that failed as a result of the challenges inherent in having a child with Down's syndrome.
The photos were absolutely beautiful. There was one little girl, Madison Crouse, who could be a beauty queen. There was a family that is comprised of four adoptive children, all with Down's Syndrome and a biological child without Down's Syndrome.
My only criticism of the book is there aren't stories by people with older children with Down's. I realize it is probably because the stories were mostly (or all?) written by website contributers, but it would have been great to read a story from someone "like me" -
As the Grandmother of our wonderful new baby grandson of six weeks I was anxious to find out as much as I could about Down Syndrome. However, I did not want to be swamped with so much information that might be more off putting than helpfull at this vulnerable time. Then I found this lovely book ``Gifts``where in every story told by mothers there was love and hope and great happiness. Reading the experiences of these families and how they coped with different situations made me laugh and cry but most of all what came through to me was the unfailing determination to allow the children to live a happy and fulfilled life. This book is a great insight into the lives of families with childrern with special needs and the wonderful opportunities that are available for them. I found this book very uplifting and positive - it leaves me looking forward to the future knowing that we have all the ingredients in our family to make a great life for our grandson ; A fantastic Mam and Dad, two older brothers and a big family that loves him very much.
My son with Down's syndrome was recently born. I was having one of those days where I felt "down" about his Down's syndrome. My husband surprised me with the book, Gifts. I immediately started reading, and I couldn't put the book down. The book made me feel acceptance. I accepted my son straight from his birth, but I couldn't accept my own feelings. Gifts helped me to do so, because many of the mothers felt the same way I did. I no longer feel alone. I recommend this book to any mom, dad, teacher, obstetrician, etc. who is involved with a child with Down's syndrome. It is truly inspirational!
I grew up in Malaysia with children who had Downs and had good experiences with them. Unfortunately back then, there wasn't early intervention etc. nor support groups like there is now so they weren't all able to go further in their independence.
This book has really shown that children with Downs are very much like typical kids in terms of their needs and even tantrums. I like that this book makes you question what 'normal' means. Life is beautiful in every form and every child is a blessing - not always by what the child is capable of, but by how the child makes you grow.
Anyone who has been told they are at risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome MUST read this book!! It has certainly made me see life differently.
Even though I am a contributor, it has nothing to do with my review of
this book. The stories I have read are so heartwarming and inspirational. I can only read one story per day because I begin to cry with each new story, with each new life. It should come with:
"Directions"
*Do not exceed recommended dose. ( one story per day )
*May cause you to smile or giggle uncontrollably.
*Mild to severe weeping may occur.
I first became aware of this book because many of the contributors are friends of mine. I thought it would be a nice book and fun to read my friends' stories. I was FLOORED by it. I began to cry as soon as I opened the cover and didn't stop until I'd read it all. The stories are funny, sad, heartwarming, thoughtful, encouraging, inspiring, touching, honest....a lot like our kids with DS. I have given several as gifts, including to my daughter's (who has DS) grandparents. It should be required reading for all OB/GYNs and Pediatricians, as well as any family with a new DS diagnosis. - Downs Syndrome - Inspirational - Special Needs - Mothers'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
Moms Choice Award Winner - downs syndrome, special needs downs syndrome Moms Choice Award Winner - downs syndrome, special needs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)