Sunday, 4 April 2010

Jennifer Lawrence - january jones, james mcavoy


The X-Men films are kind of a huge letdown as a whole, aren't they? The first two are pretty good, but everything good they had going for them was completely destroyed once The Last Stand came to fruition. Thank you, Brett Ratner. And X-Men Origins: Wolverine just drove the franchise even further into the ground; kudos, Gavin Hood. So there probably isn't any reason to get excited over a new X-Men film even if it is a prequel to the X-Men films people actually enjoy. Why would we want to see another comic book movie with limitless potential only to drop the ball yet again? Not only does X-Men: First Class take that ball and run with it but it uses it in all the right ways and reminds you why you loved the X-Men in the first place.



The cast is way better than it has any right to be. Everyone fits their character incredibly well and works fantastically as a cohesive unit. Kevin Bacon seems like a bit of an odd choice for Sebastian Shaw at first, but any doubt you may have is washed away once you finally see him absorb energy. His role as the main villain may be significantly smaller than you may imagine, but his more than qualified acting chops make nearly every scene he's a part of memorable (nothing really tops his first scene with young Magneto though). James McAvoy does an excellent job handling Charles Xavier. He's gentle, kind, and really seems to care about helping his fellow mutants. Michael Fassbender as Magneto manages to have the strongest on-screen presence. He's intense, powerful, and emotional; the best-rounded character of the film.



It was gratifying to see McAvoy and Fassbender make the roles of Professor X and Magneto their own without completely rehashing what Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan established the first time around. That is often a problem when it comes to prequels; these younger actors wind up focusing on mimicking the older version of who they're meant to portray without putting their own spin on it. Luckily, that wasn't an issue here.



No expense was made when it comes to the special effects either; Azazel is a perfect example. By the end of the film, you still won't know anything about the character other than the fact that he can teleport like Nightcrawler and is a master swordsman. His teleporting ability is just as fun to watch as Nightcrawler's was in X2 and his fight sequences (especially the one with a particular blue mutant) are always quite engaging. Most of Magneto's scenes involve some pretty hefty CG and it's pulled off rather well. The metal fillings scene is a personal favorite along with the Argentina bar scene (pay particular attention to the slow building yet unnerving music used during that scene along with the weapon used at the table). Then there's the obvious scene of Magneto reversing the missles that's being shown in nearly every advertisement these days. Beast is probably a high point of the special effects. Nicholas Hoult portrays Hank McCoy rather flawlessly (other than one scene that I won't spoil); brainy, shy, not sure of himself, and ashamed of his mutation. Beast's transformation is one of the best scenes in the film though. It gave me flashes of An American Werewolf in London. It's a shame we didn't get to see more of him as Beast because the one good long scene we see of him is really impressive.



One of the things that make X-Men: First Class so good is that we get to see how these characters grow into the superheroes and super villains that we know and love today. And again, while the film loosely follows the comics it still manages to blossom and mature into something exceptional on its own while also planting the appropriate seeds to line up with the Bryan Singer X-Men films.



So by now you have an idea of how good the film is, but is there anything bad about it? Some characters feel really underdeveloped; Riptide, Darwin, and Angel come to mind, but the biggest disappointment is Havok. There are no connections that he's actually the brother of Cyclops and many will be upset about that. Plus his character doesn't really feel very useful in comparison to both Beast and Banshee who at least put their powers to good use on several occasions throughout the film. Other than a few minor gripes about certain characters, which could surely be rectified in future installments; there really isn't much to complain about with X-Men: First Class.



Do not let other 20th Century Fox comic book related films put you off, X-Men: First Class deserves to be held in the highest regard right next to Marvel's best. The cast is practically overflowing with talent, the storyline is both sharp and absorbing, the special effects are probably the best they've ever been in any X-Men film, and the appropriate connections are made to the best parts of the original films. X-Men: First Class should be the standard for all X-Men films from here on out. It's intelligent, engrossing, and spectacular. It's easily the best X-Men film yet. X-Men: First Class

What drew me to check out X-Men: First Class was not any particular love of comic books nor any particular fondness of the previous films. What drew me to this film was the presence of actor Michael Fassbender, whose increasingly eclectic work has continued to impress me more and more with each new film he appears in. I recall little about the first three X-Men films, besides that I found them enjoyable and I admit that I haven't even bothered to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I figured it was only a matter of time before Fox rebooted the X-Men series after the lackluster reception of the last two X-Men films. Bringing in director Matthew Vaughn, the director of 2010's cult hit Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class is a summer blockbuster that delivers on all fronts, while reinventing and re-energizing the series.



The film opens with the same scene that opened the first film, introducing us to Erik Lehnsherr as he's separated from his mother at a Nazi prison camp. These first scenes, particularly Erik meeting his mortal enemy Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), are surprisingly effective. Several years later, the film sets itself up against the backdrop of the 1960s Cuban Missile Crisis as Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) is recruited by CIA agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) to assemble a team of mutants for the purpose of stopping Shaw from triggering World War III. Charles forms a partnership with the vengeful Erik (Fassbender) to help him assemble the team, which already consists of Charles' adopted sister Raven (Jennifer Lawrence), and the film leads us through the events that culminate in Charles, Erik, and Raven becoming Professor X, Magneto, and Mystique, respectively.



The story and screenplay give credit to six people total and the key to the success of this movie may be that one of those six people is Bryan Singer, the director of the first two X-Men films whose absence may have been what guided the last two films into mediocrity. His involvement, Vaughn as the director, and the changing of the time period all have significant impact on the film's success. The material seems much more at home in the 60s time period, while also helping to establish a different atmosphere and tone that separates it from the other films in the series.Vaughn emphasizes a steely, gray palette, an atmospheric visual aesthetic that gives the film a much bleaker tone than it's predecessors. He's assisted in establishing this effective atmosphere by the ominous musical score by Henry Jackman that lends to the atmosphere and builds the suspense.



There is some great talent in front of the camera. Lawrence, a recent Oscar nominee is a perfect fit for the young Mystique and Kevin Bacon gives a diabolical performance as the antagonist, but it is Michael Fassbender whom I believe will walk away from this film a star. It's sad that with so many great roles behind him in the last few years Fassbender has to play Magneto to finally get the recognition he deserves. With that said, Fassbender's performance as Magneto is fascinating to watch and brings a new level of depth to the character. His charismatic performance shows Erik as a tortured soul, but also a (forgive me for not being more eloquent, but no term I can think of is better) bada**. Furthermore, he shares remarkably strong chemistry with McAvoy and these two work well enough together to carry more films in this series.



What really elevates the material beyond it's predecessors and, for that matter, most superhero movies, is the level of drama and genuine humanity it contains. It's a complete success as a summer action film, but it's much more than that; it's a genuinely good, well-made film. In addition to that, it's almost unbearably entertaining. I found it riveting for it's entire 132-minute running time, while marveling at how it's so insanely entertaining without relying on contrived, repetitive, action sequences to guide its entertainment value. There are some negative elements; Mystique's makeup looks much cheaper than it did in previous incarnations and there is the occasional cheesy line of dialogue, but none of this was substantial enough to negatively impact my view of the film.



X-Men: First Class is exactly what it's title implies; first class. Backed by a script that is both entertaining and intelligent, guided by great direction, and brought to life by a tremendous cast, I have no reservations calling this the best X-Men film yet. It has all the things you could want from a summer blockbuster; action, adventure, intelligence, soul, Magneto exacting revenge on Nazi's, great performances, and one of the funniest cameos I've seen in a long time. It's not a masterpiece, as it sticks a little too close to the summer-film template but, be that as it may, the heart must rule the head and I have no qualms admitting that I loved it.



GRADE: A- - James Mcavoy - Jennifer Lawrence - January Jones - Kevin Bacon'


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Milwaukee M18 - milwaukee, milwaukee m18


I received this tool in the combo kit with the compact drill/driver, which I bought from Amazon largely for the drill.



I had originally bought the cheap Porter Cable 4 part Combo Kit from Lowes (Drill, Reciprocating Saw, Circular Saw, Light), only to have the forward/reverse control on that drill break within a year. I could still use it theoretically, but only for removing screws. Since I already had the batteries with my kit, I went to Lowes and purchased the bare tool Porter Cable Impact Driver ($40 at the time), and ended up using that for months for most of my work (hanging sheetrock, HVAC systems, etc). Eventually, it became more of a pain to pre-drill holes, or do anything with a bit that needed a chuck to fit onto it.



I made a couple trips to Home Depot and some other Hardware stores, and tried out the tools. I knew Milwaukee had one of the best reputations, and wanted something that was ergonomic, and used the Lithium-Ion batteries, and luckily the Milwaukee Compact Drill/Driver seemed like the most comfortable tool there, and it fit what I wanted. I went onto Amazon and bought the combo kit that came with the compact drill/driver and this impact driver, two compact batteries, one pocket clip, and the charger, which was only $200, compared to the same price for just the drill/driver at Home Depot.



The first job I had when I got these tools was replacing some metal roofing, and either tool worked fine, but I can't emphasize enough how important the pocket clip is if you're going to be doing roofing, framing, or sheetrock. It's also useful when you're putting up cabinets and need somewhere to place your drill. Unfortunately my kit only came with the one, so I chose to put it on the drill/driver, expecting I'd be using it more. Now that I've had the kit for almost 5 months, I have to say that was a premature decision. I'll be purchasing another clip whenever I can find one (I didn't see them at Home Depot) for my Impact Driver, because that's become my favorite tool to use for most applications.



I've used it for driving deck screws through TREX, and it worked phenomenally. I've used it with a socket attachment with 7-9 in. lags when I was attaching 4"x4" posts to beams on a large commercial deck, and it worked splendidly. I was going to be stuck with my socket where I was, and started off using it before trying the impact driver, and was pleasantly surprised. It did start to slow down when the lag got deeper, but it was still able to keep driving the lag while sinking the washer fairly deep into the treated 4"x4".



The compact size of the impact driver also makes it useful for crawlspace work. I use it often when working on HVAC systems and need to drive sheet metal screws into pipe. Perhaps due to the short length of the tool, it is a lot easier to control, and slipping has become a much less common occurrence. It's much easier to apply force in the direction that you are trying to with this tool versus a normal drill.



The only time when I don't use this impact driver is when I actually need to drill something, or I need more reach, in which case I use the drill with a finder driver, or a larger bit extension (tightening screws on the ceiling that didn't sink well enough for mudding, etc.).



Since I've gotten this kit, my boss rarely ever uses his Ridgid NiCad Hammer Drill/Driver, opting instead to borrow one of my tools for most applications. They're a great buy, but for most things, the Impact Driver is the most useful to have. It's more compact than the drill, and it's far more powerful. If you're using a good brand (DeWalt, Makita, etc), there's probably no financially good reason to switch over to this impact driver, but for those making the decision, I have had no regrets about owning this tool, and the exclusive battery meter on the Milwaukee M18 batteries just sweetens the deal. Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2650-20 M18 18-Volt Impact Driver (Tool Only, No Battery)

I have many of the M18 cordless tools. I can't sing the praises of these tools enough - especially this impact driver.



-It is truly compact - goes places the drill/driver can't.

-It is quite light - including with the full size battery attached.

-It has tons of torque, and has never failed me. It has so much muscle, my full size Milwaukee 120v. impact drill is rarely used anymore. The M18 drill/driver/impact plays second fiddle to this little impact driver.

-In the last ten months it has smoked through thousands of 2-1/2" torx screws, 500 5" torx lags, 250 7" torx lags, 5,000 1-1/2" washer-head screws, and lots more.

-It has been dropped, kicked around, and generally mistreated by willing, but occasionally clumsy, helpers. It keeps chattering away to this day.

-When it comes to fasteners, it is the clearly preferred by everyone that has put some time on it, and is now the first tool that disappears for tasks.

-The batteries (have three of them 'tween all the tools used) have been excellent and without fault. Fantastic number of screws driven per charge. See my other review on the M18 XC batteries.

-The trigger gives me all the control I would expect of a non-clutched driver.

-You get used to the forward/reverse switch location. Like it much better than the old 120v hole hawg location.



An absolute animal, and to think it was a "free" add-on in the Milwaukee kit I purchased. I would never have thought it would turn into THE most used and loved tool of all.

The only people that will tell you an impact driver is basically a drill are the ones that have never used one! I will never use a drill to screw again. I'm not a carpenter but my friend has a building company and he swears by impacts for screwing as well.



As for this specific tool, I switched from a Makita which did the job, but when the M18 line came out I had to have it. This impact feels much more durable in your hand than the Makita. I have both the compact batteries and the XC models and would recommend anyone to make sure they have both in their arsenal. The compact complements the size of this impact but for long drawn-out jobs it's nice to have the more powerful battery - Milwaukee M18 - Cordless Tools - Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion - Milwaukee'


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Waterproof Mp3 Player - waterproof, swimming


As someone who swam competitively for about 10-13 years growing up, then a ~8-10 year break and is swimming again to keep in shape, here are my thoughts after my first use of this waterproof MP3 player. Note, I swim with goggles and no cap.



* Overall, I was impressed with how well the MP3 player worked under water. I was listening to an audiobook, and had no problem at all hearing or understanding the narrator. Considering that this option is easily 1/3 the price of anything else I could find that sounded like it might be 'better', it seems like a great value. The one feature I've seen on other options that seems like it could solve some of the problems this has are the bone-sound transmission options. I've never tried something like that, but it sounds rather uncomfortable (and, again, is at least 3x the cost). A text display to show what MP3 is playing would be a great improvement, but it's still useable without that.



* When doing real training with a swim team, I never really got bored as the workouts were intense enough to require my full attention, and there was a sense of camaraderie swimming with your teammates. However, I previously always got very bored swimming by myself, so it had been difficult to stay motivated and to get to the pool or stay in the water as long as I'd like. Having something to listen to this morning fixed that completely, and without really noticing it, I ended up swimming longer than I have been lately.



* Selecting the right ear plug and keeping ALL water out of the earplugs is critical to being able to hear underwater. The clear 'stepped' earplug seemed like it would be the best for keeping water out, but I found it difficult to get in correctly and slightly painful if fully inserted, but did a pretty decent job of forming a tight seal. It comes with 7 different earplug options; I'll be trying one of the others next time.



* The over-the-ear hooks didn't stay in place very well, and I often realized halfway down the pool that they were dangling off. Surprisingly, the earplugs generally still managed to stay in place and with a good seal in my ear, not letting any water in. This would almost certainly be a non-issue swimming with a cap, but I get too hot swimming with a cap on.



* When trying to do a bit of sprint / interval training without a cap on, I had a lot of trouble the hooks falling out. Similarly, any breaststroke or butterfly made that problem worse as well -- the rhythmic surge of the water, rather than the more constant flow with freestyle/backstroke, pulled them out more often.



* The cord from the MP3 player to your ears is very short. It's short enough that you have to first attach the mp3 player to your goggles, then put on your goggles, then insert the earbuds. This is good so you don't have a long trailing cord, but can be inconvenient if you want to check the LED or look at the device while pressing buttons. I'd recommend memorizing where all the buttons are so you can press them with your goggles still on your head. If you take off your earbuds mid-swim (which you would have to do in order to look at the buttons), it's difficult to get a good seal again in your ears since your fingers and your ear canal will be wet, but it IS possible. If the sound suddenly cuts out or gets muffled in one ear, it's because water got in.



* Swimming outdoors, the LED indicator on the power light (which tells you if you're in random or linear play; short-press the button to toggle between) is WAY too dim to see.



* My goggles have a split strap. I initially had the device hooked to the top strap in the middle of the back of my head, and often found it flipping down/rolling over during push-off from the walls. Unfortunately, it rolled over, hitting the power/play mode button in the process, and switched my audiobook to random play the first time this happened. After that, I positioned it an inch or two behind my ear and didn't have this problem any more. Next time, I think I'll also try it on the bottom strap.



* You likely won't be able to replace the waterproof earbuds with something from another manufacturer due to the threaded plug (which is needed to keep water out). According to another reviewer, you CAN order replacements from the makers of this device.



* One other note from a functional standpoint: the USB connector that comes with the device plugs into the headphone jack (to minimize external paths into the internal circuitry). You need to screw it in (just like with the earbuds) before your computer will recognize the device. Thankfully, it shows up to your computer just like a USB flash drive; no silly proprietary interface. Diver (TM) Waterproof MP3 Player. 4 GB. Kit Includes Waterproof Earphones. (Black)

I just got this yesterday and haven't used it in water yet, so I may come back and amend this review after my swim tomorrow.



I really like this MP3 player so far. The first thing I noticed is that while they are advertising this as a 2GB MP3 player, it actually has nearly 4 GB (3.9). If you go to their website (DiverMP3 dot com) it appears that is the only size they actually carry, so you are getting even more than you pay for and this is already a GREAT price for a waterproof player.



The player comes with 2 sets of headphones, one regular and one waterproof pair. You MUST use the waterproof pair when using the player where it is in danger of getting wet. Though other reviews say that they waterproof pair has terrible sound, I don't agree. I am very sensitive to bad quality recordings/sound, so I really think they are fine. I don't listen to anything with a really booming bass so maybe it doesn't support heavy bass as well as some people like (those who prefer to "feel" the bass in the song), but there aren't a lot of headphones that support that and having something sealed into your ear and booming bass into your head like that would be terrible for your hearing, anyways.



Loading songs on it is super easier.. just open one window with the MP3 player's contents and another with all the songs on your computer and drag and drop. No software needed. It support MP3 and WMA files only.



The instructions are lacking somewhat in my opinion. It comes with an armband (for land use only, not in the water), but it isn't even mentioned in the instructions and it took me a little while to figure out how to use it. Also it is my understanding that it has both a continuous linear play function (plays in the order they are on the player) or a shuffle option, but I can't figure out how to turn it off of shuffle. It keeps playing the same dozen or so songs when I have about 40 loaded on at this point. Sometimes it will play one song, then another, and the next song is the one played the first time, which is really frustrating. I'm sure if I could figure out how to get it off shuffle it would fine. If anyone figure it out, let me know..



ETA: I figured out how to switch from shuffle to linear play (or I should say my husband did). The power button on the side is both the on/off AND the mode switch. To change modes, you just press and release once. A blue light means shuffle and a red light means linear play. To turn off, you hold the button down until the light disappears. Also, I went swimming today and used it for an hour and a half with no real problems. I had to release the water out of one side several times because it was muffling the sound on that side, but I attribute that to not finding the right size cover for that side.. my ears need different bud sizes for headphones and I got the right size for my left ear but not my right. About halfway through my swim I stopped having any issues with water getting into the earbuds, though. I'm going to try going up one size on the bud on that side next time. Other than that, no issues whatsoever. What a great product! - Swimming - Waterproof - Aquatic Mp3 Player'


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Refrigerator Water Filter - refrigerator water filter, fridge filter


Fits in the fridge to filter the water for the water tap and ice maker. Found the best price at Amazon. Why is the price for a 2 or 3 pack more than 2 or 3 single packs. Why is a large jar of peanut butter more per ounce than 2 smaller jars of peanut butter. Do allot of people fall for this, do they just throw items into the cart without looking or checking the price. GE GSWF Refrigerator Water Filter, 1-Pack

Exactly as expected... Interesting that a 3pack is a few dollars more than 3 individually purchased. Math on the 2pack is even higher per unit price. ?? Anyway exactly as ordered/delivered on time no complaints.

A friend gave us a fridge when we purchased our home and not long after the filter light came on. I had always noticed that the water pressure wasn't very strong and it seemed to take forever to get a full glass of water. Well, I purchased this and installed it and now we have better pressure!! :)



You have to run the water dispenser for a while though to get all the impurities out when you first install it. The instructions tell you everything you need to know.



Will definitely be purchasing this again when I need to!

This is the filter that I have to buy for my fridge. I have not used any other filers so do not know about the quality, however the price on Amazon is by far the best. The filter does last for quite awhile, at least six months with pretty regular use. - Ge Water Filter - Fridge Filter - Refrigerator Water Filter - Water Filter'


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Proactive - proactive, proactiv


Proaciv is a highly effective acne treatment brand but, here's the catch - you have to keep at it. Firstly, it takes a few weeks before you see significant results. This is the case for any acne treatment product really - you just HAVE to be consistent and give it time. So, folks looking for a quick solution to their problem (i.e. - clearing up your skin in time for prom or a wedding, for example) will be disappointed.



Secondly, it is not a magic potion capable of "curing" acne. Once you stop using the product, your acne will return unless you take active steps to maintain the health of your skin. It is often believed that merely using a product can be the only change made to help your skin. Clear skin is about more than just using the right brands.... having clear skin is about understanding skin.



Overall, I'd say use this product if you can afford to consistently buy it. If you can't, understand the ways to help keep your skin healthy since, if you don't take those steps, it is HIGHLY likely be disappointed once you stop using Proactiv. Proactiv Solution 4-pc. Acne Treatment System

Proactiv is GREAT, but this configuration will leave you very disappointed. The sizes are small for the price and you might as well buy the "Mega" Supersized bottles instead for an additional $10. There is no way that the sizes in this configuration would last for 60 days of use. This ad is misleading.



You'll find a better deal right here on Amazon, just search for "Super Size Proactiv" and you'll find it, and get much larger sizes with free shipping (usually).



Conclusion: Proactiv is Recommended! (but buy another configuration).

We got this product for our 17 year old son last year. He asked for it for XMas 2010. Not only did we get it for him for XMas, we also purchased it for our 13 year old son. This is a good product so far as we can tell.

Well, 6 weeks into using the Proactiv system, we have seen about a 50% improvement in my son's skin. This is much better than after 3 months of doctor's topical cream prescriptions and a tetracycline prescription which did nothing at all to the acne on his cheeks. We are hoping that in another month's time we will see even 25% more improvement. There was so much damage that I think it is just going to take some time to repair the scarring/brown and red marks on the cheeks. The 2 month supply has been quite worth the money, although he is out of step 1-the Cleanser already...but he may have used 2 much of it at times. He still has step 2 & 3 which should last another 2-3 weeks. He will probably continue to use this system for quite sometime. Just as a side note on purchasing...I have found a Proactive kiosk in the mall which sells the 2 month system for pretty much the same price, just in case you can't wait for the shipping.

I tried this product out of desperation. I'm in my late 20's and have had moderate acne since I was a teen and nothing ever really works long term. I really wanted to give this a treatment a solid chance so I made sure I followed the directions exactly. I washed my face twice a day with step one and followed it with step two each time. During the day I would use their super light moisturizer and did the mask 3 times each week (putting it on all over my face and letting it set for 20 minutes before rinsing). I used the product precisely for two weeks and didn't have very good results. My small bumps that didn't come to a head were minimized so I could see this working for someone with mild acne. I still continued to get new white heads and large red pimples the entire time. My skin was very sensitive during this time but I expected it to be, but hoped it would ease up over time, it didn't.



I also tried using the refining mask as spot treatment as many other people recommended that to be the most effective way to use the system. I was not happy with the results with this. I tried putting it on at night as the last step of the system and it would make the white heads larger the next day and the larger red pimples more inflamed. But again I could see this working for someone with mild acne but not moderate to intense acne.



I think their automatic re-ordering is rather shady as there is no way to opt out of the automatic re-ordering when placing your first order. I tried to go in right away to post-pone my re-ordering options and it wouldn't allow me to do soon until product was delivered (which they delivered to the wrong address-my billing address-yet they sent to invoice to the shipping address). I pushed the date back as far as it would go 16 weeks as I didn't want them sending me new product right away (it defaulted to 2 weeks from when my initial order was place, but my kit was supposed to last 90 days!). They do not allow you to cancel your account online, you have to call their customer service line. I called at 7pm and got a live person rather quick and I explained my dissatisfaction with the product and that I wanted to cancel the account. She stated she would cancel the account but wouldn't give me any sort of cancellation number. I asked if I would receive notice of the cancellation and was told I would be mailed one, but haven't received it yet. My card hasn't been charged yet for additional shipments (as I've heard happen to other people) but I'll be watching it for the next 16 weeks to see if they try to continue my account. I was also disappointed that I wasn't offered any kind of refund or option to send the product back for a partial refund as their ads and web site state they offer this. I'm out $40 for a 30 day supply (after shipping) which isn't awful, but not cheap for something that didn't work for me.



So I'm going back to the dermatologist to try again. So overall I could see this working for mild acne but for people with moderate acne or worse, I wouldn't buy it/sign up for their program. If you have a friend who has this product I would try theirs first to see if it works for you before investing. - Proactive - Blemish Control - Proactiv - Acne'


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Video Games


Who doesn't love the Duke!? The original alien killer. The point of this game is you play as Duke (obviously) and you travel through time collecting crystals trying to stop the aliens from destroying humanity. Basic Duke Nukem stuff. But....those of you who have played Duke Nukem before should know he's still the same wise-cracking badass as we we've all come to know and love. Five stars and two thumbs WAY up! PLAYSTATION DUKE NUKEM TIME TO KILL

Duke Nukem' - Time to Kill was fun when I was playing playstation and there was no such thing as a next generation system, however, after playing a PS3 or Xbox 360 the game isn't what you remember. It has weird controls, horrible graphics and highly repetitive game play. A game I recommend not actually paying for and just allowing yourself to feel nostalgia over every once in awhile.'


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Gun Maintenance - gun cleaner, hoppes


These bore cleaners are like dental floss for your gun's barrel. Used as directed and right after your shooting session, it will clean your barrel rifling safely to a mirror like shine without solvents or a mess. Keep one in your rangebag handy to remove corrosive powder and primer residues from your barrel. Quick, easy and rugged. Good for years of use although your mileage may vary. Great gift for the new gun owner! Hoppe's 24002 BoreSnake .380, 9mm, .38, .357 Caliber Pistol and Revolver Bore Cleaner

Very quick and easy. I always take this with me in my range bag. Even if you don't brake down your gun for cleaning, a few pulls through with a Bore Snake and your pistol barrel will be clean and shooting right on target.

Don't know how I cleaned my pistol(s) before buying this. Makes cleaning the barrel and cylinders of my revolver a breeze. I've since bought another one for my .45 auto. This accessory belongs in everyone's range bag or cleaning kit!

I love these bore snakes, I have one for my 9mm pistol and my rifle. You can use it as a quick cleaning tool or use it as part of a thorough cleaning. When I'm doing a thorough cleaning I:



1. Use a brush with solvent to scrub the barrel

2. Spray brake cleaner to remove the solvent

3. Use the snake to make sure its clean and give the inside of the barrel a uniform coating of oil.

4. If the snake comes out dirty I repeat the process till its clean



This is a great cleaning tool! - Hoppes - Gun Cleaner - Boresnake - Gun Maintenance'


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Contractor Supply - contractor supply, framing nailer


used these in my milwaukee framing nailer for a shear wall i was putting up. they worked well, impossible to take out (a good thing), no jams.

i'm not a fan of plastic collated nails because of the trash they leave behind. these also produced flying bits of burning plastic onto the ground. i guess this could be dangerous, but so long as you're not working in a room full of gasoline you'll probably be okay.

if you're doing sheathing or shear wall stuff with this make sure you order enough, 500 may go sooner than you think. B & C Eagle A238X113R/22 Round Head 2-3/8-Inch-by-.113-Inch-by-20 to 22-Degree Plastic Collated Ring Shank Framing Nail (500 per Box)

B & C Eagle A238X113R/22 Round Head 2-3/8-Inch by .113-Inch by 20 to 22 Degree Plastic Collated Ring Shank Framing Nail (500 per Box)

Very pleased with this purchase and the swift delivery was amazing. - Framing - Contractor Supply - Milwaukee - Framing Nailer'


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Self-stick Notes - post-it notes, message pads


These 2 inch by 2 inch classic post-it note pads are very good for making brief notes to yourself--or, of course, notes to other people. Despite the fact that people these days often use their computer calendars to remind them of appointments and things to do, these note pads remain good sellers in stores--which is great proof that they work! Just write your note and use the adhesive on the top of the back to attach your note in the place where it needs to be seen!



I also like the fact that these post-it notes come in several different colors in the package. This allows people to color code their notes to themselves or others. Wonderful!



Unfortunately, however, the adhesive sticky substance on the reverse of the post-it note is not as strong as I would like it to be. All too often these notes loose their ability to stay stuck in the right place until people who need their reminders can use them. I probably wouldn't use this product on a refrigerator for days at a time--it could well simply fall off and flutter right on in under the fridge! Even on flat surfaces this has been a problem.



This is a great product but obviously I cannot ignore the flaw that I just told you about. I give it four stars for being good and useful in several different colors--but not great. The manufacturer needs to strengthen the adhesive portion on the reverse of the post it notes. Post-it® Notes, Original Cube, 1 7/8 inches x 1 7/8 inches, Assorted Neon and Ultra Colors, One Pad per Pack

I know this is my fault - I did not read the description closely enough - but these are really small Post-Its. When it said "original cube", I didn't bother to pay attention to the dimensions. But these are not the "normal" sized Post-Its. So, even though it is described clearly... If you want a regular cube of Post-Its - don't buy this.

When I'm at work I like to use these post it notes since people always give me phone numbers and names to write down. They're just so convenient. I can place them anywhere that I'll easily remember thanks to the adhesive back edge. The new springs colors are nice too, and nice change from the standard boring old yellow notes I'm used to.



My biggest issue with these though is the adhesive. They're always too weak, so I need a small piece of tape to attach it to my computer monitor, desk, etc. Another minor issue is the bend it creates when ripping a sheet off. The top sticky rim seems to bend upward due to the motion you use when pulling the note off.



They're still handy, and I'll keep using them. I do recommend them!

I love post-it notes! They have so many uses. This cute has small post-it notes, just under 2 inches by 2 inches. I use them as markers in the books, cook books, manuals and notebokes.

They help keep me organized. I like that they come in different colors, so I can color-code my bookmarks.

They provide enough room to write a small notation, but this size is not very good writing notes as there is not a lot of room. But they are perfect for marking! - Post-it - Post-it Notes - Message Pads - Self-stick Notes'


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Power Cable - cord, extension cord


Low profile fits behind our bookshelves, which are set away from the wall with the distance of the baseboard. Also don't have to worry about bumping into it and bending the prongs. Also like that it's off-set so you can plug in other things on the bottom. Be sure to get this one that has the 3rd ground plug rather than the cheaper one without the ground plug. TRC 90511Flatplug Ultra Thin Profile 3-Wire Cord 6-Foot-16/2-Inch, White

Bottom line: If you need to extend one and only one plug from an outlet then I'm sure this will do the trick for you. Everyone else - stay away.



The design of the plug manages to block outlets whether they are located below or to the side of this plug. I needed to access both outlets - so I'm out of luck. While I appreciate the value of a flat-headed outlet plug, why in the world would you gerrymander it in such a way as to actually *block* the use of any other outlets? The picture suggests that it curves out of the way, but if you closely examine the size of the head, you'll see that two of these don't quite fit on a standard outlet. Maybe if you filed down the plug? But are you seriously going to damage a plug and then stick it behind furniture where you won't see if it's overheating?



I got several of these and am very disappointed that I cannot use two of these on a standard house outlet because one will always be blocking the other. I also can't use this on an electrical strip for the same reason. I even found an outlet strip oriented horizontally (plugs sideways) and the plug on these cords *still* manages to partly cover those up, too.



Very disappointing. These are useless to me and it's not worth returning. Maybe I'll use them in the shop, someday. Booooo!

Functional and the flattest extension cord I've been able to find. Main downside is that the outlet part is boxy and larger than on a standard 3-outlet extension cord. Also, note there is no surge protection.

I needed to be able to use the receptacle that was half covered by my stove for can opener, blender, etc; so this flat plug cord is perfect, because the depth of a regular plug would make my stove sit out further from the wall. I'm very pleased with the quality of this cord. I have other flat plug cords, but this cord is nicer.

This is a nice 3 wire flat plug extension cord - since this is in an area off my bathroom sink, it is necessary to have a flat plug that will not be accidentally bumped. As this is a location near water, I have this plugged into a GFI outlet for safety. The quality seems good , however I hate the cheapening of todays electrical cords - used to be 15 amp was standard for extension cords, now it is 13 amp. Since the average circuit breaker in a home is 15 amp, I feel that this is penny wise and pound foolish. How much money does this slightly thinner wire save, as compared to a standard old 15 amp extension cord?

The plug on this cord is extremely thin: I measured that it pokes out less than half an inch from the plug. I didn't think the golden "pull ring" would be useful, but I think trying to unplug something like this without one would be pretty dangerous. Since it is so thin, it would be hard to avoid your fingers coming in contact with the plug as you pull it out. The only complaint I have about the Flatplug is the way it is bent. They do this so that the plug below is not being covered. However, I actually need the cord to go in the other direction. This means that the cord has to bend around and actually adds quite a bit of depth which somewhat eliminates the purpose of having a flat plug. I fixed this by taking the electrical box out of the wall and turning it upside down, but it would be nice to maybe have two versions of this cord.

Grounded flatplug extension cords are very hard to find. Most are not grounded. I couldn't find grounded flatplugs at the popular hardware or home improvement stores.



These are also flatter than the other flatplug extensions.



Excellent product, good price at Amazon.

I got this along with a Coleman and a Slimline to see which I liked best. This one was the thinnest of all, at .44" (compared to as thick as .61" for the Coleman). I like the flip-out handle.



The only way to improve on this product would be to take Coleman's example and mold the outlet housing from hard rubber instead of a lighter plastic shell. - Extension Cord - Grounded - Extension - Cord'


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Power Cable - cord, extension cord grounded Power Cable - cord, extension cord