Creativity - coloring, crayons

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The colors are vibrant and there is an assortment of fabulous colors. However, the waxy material is more crayon-like than a pencil. Unlike regular crayons, I had to use more force than I wished to exert in order to achieve the consistent vibrant color that I sought. I found it impossible to achieve any shading from dark to light. I don't completely regret my purchase, as it is another medium for kids to experiment and be creative, but I can't highly recommend this as a TOY because you have to press hard to get good results, and I can't recommend this as an ART material because you can't achieve the results that can be achieved with real pencils. Crayola 30ct Twistables Colored Pencils

I had bought a bunch of Crayola Twistable pencils for my kids, who love to color. One the one hand, the pencils were very convenient because they didn't need sharpening. On the other hand, they were only convenient for older kids who could be trusted with them...and who probably could sharpen pencils on their own, anyway. My older kids got the concept of not twisting the lead out too far, but the younger ones liked to push their luck. Inevitably, I'd find long pieces of broken off leads, and the waste would drive me crazy.



So, how do you possibly recycle those long, broken-off pieces? It just so happens that the lead size of the Twistable pencils is the same lead size that's used by the the Pentel Eight Color Automatic Pencil. This is one of the coolest clutch pencils because it holds eight different colors at once. But the price for lead for it if you buy it from Pentel directly is highway robbery. It struck me that the pencil leads looked close in size, and I substituted one from a Twistable into the Pentel. It fit perfectly, and the Pentel can use lead lengths as short as 3/4", so even leads that before seemed unusable become usable again.



Hope that helps someone!

Although this is a reasonably good idea, in my book it sits right alongside the electric can opener and electric pepper mill in terms of necessity. If you think about it, Crayola took a regular color pencil which is pretty ecologically neutral (wood, graphite, pigment, etc) and made a plastic version of it that is not refillable nor recyclable. When the lead breaks inside--and it does--the Twistable is basically useless. The only problem I see it solving is when your kid presses too hard and breaks the point, she can twist the end herself, extend the point and keep drawing without having to bother you.

I purchased these thinking they'd be worth the higher price than just plain colored pencils that have to be sharpened, but unfortunately, I am so disappointed. I bought the 30-piece set, and the ones that still work are great and lots of fun to use, but unfortunately I've had to throw away over half of them (barely used), as the twisting mechanism kept breaking. I took one apart to see if I could fix it or see what the problem is or if I was doing something wrong (all you do is twist it, so there's not a LOT I could have been doing wrong), but to no avail. The twisting mechanism just seems to get stuck, so you end up twisting harder to see if that's the problem, and it just ends up breaking the lead inside and jamming the whole thing up. I have emailed Crayola just to let them know - maybe product development can find the feedback helpful in improving the product, but for now, it's a thumbs-down for us. Still love the ones that haven't broken yet...as long as they keep working...

I'm the one who likes the Crayola Twistables! My kids prefer traditional colored pencils. I use Twistables to illustrate for work and in my journal. Crayola products render more saturated color and the leads and crayons are softer which means more color is left on the paper with less effort. As a design professional, I prefer Prismacolors for color drawing, but Twistables pack better when its time for drawing on the go, and I don't tense up as much about losing or misplacing them.



I think my children prefer the colored pencils because they are more forgiving when dropped. Once the crayon portion of a Twistable dislodges from the base, the product is useless. Their first pack of Twistables didn't last as long as they would have liked. If you have young children and supervise their drawing time, this probably won't be an issue.



Tips and tricks:



- Show children how to expose only a small amount of crayon at a time and never extend it fully out of the casing.



- To get a fine point, hold the Twistable at shallow angle. Scrape the tip along a piece of paper while rotating the pencil.



- Encourage older children to blend colors, warm up the product by drawing on scrap paper first. Then rub the pencil back and forth lightly on your art work in layers.



- The white pencil looks great on black construction paper and so do the blues and oranges.



- Help young coloring book artists use Twistables for small areas like eyeballs, belts, and shoes. Demonstrate how crayons are good for large areas like lawns, oceans, and the sky.

Young children quickly outgrow an interest in crayons. Too messy, not easy for them to draw what they want and nothing discourages an interest in art quicker than having your art come out "wrong" in your own eyes.



Colored pencils are much better at detail but sharpening becomes an issue if they don't do it right, plus the sharpener does have a razor in it...



Enter, the Twistables! Colored pencils that need no sharpening. Perfect.



Well, almost perfect. Crayola should include ALL their colored pencils as Twistables, but they don't. I'd give them 5 stars if they did. They tend to include the more vibrant colors and exclude the earth tones, which is a shame. But overall, great for kids and young adults.



I prefer smooth paper for these too, the paper listed as "sketch" doesn't hold the color as well. - Crayons - Pencils - Art - Coloring'

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Psi Woodworking - turning tools, hardware

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This product is simply excellent. The quality of the steel is excellent. I am amazed with the results.



I bought this set 5 years ago and I've been using it daily since than. You don't need to buy fancier or more expensive tooling thinking that they would work better. The truth is that this set works and delivers. The steel is really good and I don't have to resharpen that often. I am using exotic hardwoods and it is fine.



I am amazed that this product is so good that I haven't had the need to buy any other set during these 5 years. I still have a lot of metal in my tools that make me think that I won't need to buy another set for myself in many years to come! PSI Woodworking LCPM3 3 Piece HSS Pen Turning Lathe Chisel Set

Very usable set of Midi turning tools. They are a very nice size for pen and other small work. They were fairly sharp upon arrival, but like all edged tools would benefit from a good honing before use.



Seem to hold an edge well, and the wooden box was a nice plus.

Really nice little pen set for the price. The handles were a little rough on the finish and ink blemished on the stamping. The HSS steel is nice and sharp and the carry case is a positive. Overall i'm pleased with them.

I purchased this beginner chisel set at the same time I ordered a pen turning lathe. I found them to be an excellent value. They are of sufficient quality to get you started in the craft. They're not professional grade but they're not junk either. They are of reasonable quality and great for the beginner to learn what their preferences are. Then later they can purchase higher grade chisels with the confidence of knowing just what they want. I recommend this set to anyone who's on a tight budget and not sure what they need. - Pen Turning - Woodturning - Hardware - Turning Tools'

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Thomas Engines - train, kids

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If you have seventy-five dollars burning a hole in your pocket and you just have to have a Thomas the Tank Engine rolling suitcase, please, please, please take fifty of it to the mall first. Then, with the last twenty-five, go to ANY other seller of this cheaply made novelty product and knock yourself out. You will have a cute, overpriced rolling duffel bag that your kids will absolutely adore plus another 50 bones worth of merchandise of your choice.



The bag is essentially a toy that is marginally useful as a light-duty travel bag as well. You would never check it, but the kids will love rolling it through the airport. It's cheap and thin; I have some made-in-China cosmetic cases that are tougher than this. The zipper seems frail and you wouldn't want to overtax it by filling the bag to the point of stuffing. The handle works great for about four seconds and then sticks thereafter, making it impossible for a young child to extend and retract on their own. No big deal; you can always help them... but every time, you'll wonder if it's about to break, because it's flimsy and struggles to perform. Count on losing the steam funnel the first time it's pulled on, but this doesn't affect the use.



All in all, it's a piece of "luggage" worth about ten bucks, and you're paying another fifteen for the character licensing. If your kids will swoon over it, it may be worth the 25 (as it was for us), but never EVER pay what they're asking here. It's honestly triple the going rate. Usually amazon is a deal, but not this time. Thomas the Tank Engine Rolling Luggage Travel Bag

My son loves pulling this bag around the home and airport. However, after one trip the zipper and chimney broke. I have been spending the last few days looking for products to fix the chimney and zipper. We received this bag as a gift and I can't believe how much it cost! Wow, even though the bag is very cute, I can't believe it costs $75, it is worth $25.

This is a fantastic little piece of luggage. My just turned 4 yr old loves Thomas, as most kids do. When we picked this package up, we had to open it right away and he pulled it back to our vehicle. The shipping was so fast I could not believe it.He said to me" Momma, can we please take an airplane ride with my new Thomas suitcase",and " I am never using any other suitcase again", so there it is. He loves it, I booked a flight for us to travel to see his Mima and Papa, who live 4500+ kms away.What a great fins, great company, and great site. Thanks to all. Laura

This was sent to my two year old grandson in Vermont. He has a couple of trips coming and I thought it would be perfect for him on the plane so that he can pack his books and toys for the trips. He loves Thomas Train so when I saw this, I knew it was perfect for him. When it arrived, he packed it immediately with toys and pulled it around the house. So, think the bag was a perfect selection for him. I don't know yet how durable it is going to be but my daughter thinks it is a sturdy bag and will be great.

I started flying alone with my back and forth from Texas to either Iowa or Minnesota since he was 9 months old. As son as he could walk we had one on the smaller rolling backpacks for him to play with. I would take it with me on the plan for "his toys", Well then one time when we flew he wanted to roll it.

At 2 1/2 years he out grew that one and I found this one and he loves it. At three we added a baby sisiter to the equation which made him able to be responsible for his own "on the plane" bag even more important. We have made anywhere between 6-8 trips with it including a trip to Mexico. Most of our trips include taking two plans to get to our destination.

He loves rolling it through the airport, and smiles whenever someone comments one it. Even when he gets tired becasue of the shape it lays very easy across the top of the stroller for our newly born daughter.

While I do admit you can't over stuff it and yes on the last flight the stack ripped, and sometimes the handles stick it doesn't out weigh the positives:

It has a side opeing zipper, that when stuffed under the seat of both larger and the smaller "puddle jumpers" planes you can still access the stuff inside. The inside is quite roomy as well, he will usually pack a DVD player,case of DVD's earphones, Coloring books with crayons, MP3 player a bag with 4-5 trains and cars, a container of snacks, his bunny and even a small blanket. We use the straps on the outside to attach his travel pillow.



I have thought about getting another type of "on the plane" suitcase but he doesn't want one yet, I only hope this one last until he is ready for a different type of one, as I am going to have a hard time locating one.



For me it's been worth the $20 or $30 dollars I spent on it. - Kids - Cheap - Character - Train'

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Emergency Blankets - survival, backpacking

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Okay, look at the reviews for this product, and look at the dates. It was stated some time ago that a buyer orded Quake Care blankets, you know- LIKE THE PICTURE! But that buyer got EverDixie blankets. Now, all this time I later, I paid my money for the Quake Care blankets listed in the description and shown in the picture yet I too was sent the ED ones. I haven't yet opened one to see if it's worthwhile...it sort of defeats the purpose to waste one to see if it's usable (I already know the QC product is, I've used them before).



Maybe the product I got is decent but it's not the product I was sold. Given that this bait and switch is an ongoing affair, I can see no other word to use but fraud. Did I send them back? They were $5 bucks, not worth messing with. That's probably what the vendor figures...no one will bother. So no, I didn't send them back but I will at least alert potential buyers that this vendor is knowingly, willingly defrauding buyers by sending them a different product than they agreed to purchase.



Amazon.com should ditch this sleezy, disreputable seller. And if that seller simply doesn't realize their copy is outdated, this should be the notice they need to correct it. But since they've been doing this for quite a while I imagine they just don't care. Emergency Thermal Blankets (4 Pack)

I have used mylar "space" blankets for the past 30 years for near innumerable projects. Want to make a solar oven? here's a tool to allow that. Increase the rating on your sleeping bag by 20 degrees (put the mylar INSIDE the bag), I've made emergency ponchos from them while backpacking. Ground cloths, signal devices, sun awnings (in this mode they help provide cooling), insulation for coolers, animal shelters, a lining for an incubator.



They don't have to wait around in your car or "read bag" to find uses! However, I carry them in each vehicle, I have one in each of my various (depending on purpose) "ready bags", in emergency kits made for the kids and in all the first aid kits in the house, vehicles, the ranch and other such haunts.



This little piece of plastic may well be one of the premier tools of all time.

I've played with a couple of different brands of space blankets and these blankets are of fine quality. They suffer the usual short comings of this material (tears spread easily) but on the grand scale of space blanket brands, you are getting one of the better quality blankets. For example, one of the cheaper brands I have tried experienced flaking of the mylar coating after (admittedly) rough handling. The brand being reviewed here did not suffer from this flaking. Definitely recommended.

If you are setting up a "grab & go" pack - the kind of thing that lives in your car or at your office, insurance against a manmade disaster like a terrorist attack or a runaway nuclear reactor; or a natural catastrophe like an earthquake or a hurricane - you cannot get along without these mylar blankets. You can use them as blankets, cloaks, tents, groundcloths and signal panels. They are almost weightless and as noted, very versatile. They belong in every survival kit, automobile glove compartment, and hiker's pack. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I did not receive the Quake Kare Emergency Thermal Blankets that I ordered. Because I had read from previous reviews that BP Supplies have played Bait and Switch before, I made a screen shot of the order page before I ordered showing that I was being promised, specifically, Quake Kare blankets. These are a well known brand and of very good quality.



Instead I receive a cheap, knockoff- Ever Dixie "no-name" brand Emergency Blankets from China. I know absolutely nothing about this brand. They're going in the trash. They look very, very cheap and I sure wouldn't trust my safety to these, And as I told the representative at Amazon, this Bait and Switch is especially reprehensible on BPs part because these are Emergency supplies and someone could loose their life from using an unknown, inferior or faulty product in an Emergency. This is serious business.



For those of you who have been ripped off by BP Supplies before with their Bait and Switch, I would strongly encourage you to report this directly to Amazon. It doesn't matter if you just write it in a review that you've been ripped off. You have to speak with an Amazon rep who forwards that info to the powers that be who determine which companies are allowed to sell on their site. And if enough customers complain, BP Medical Supplies will not be allowed to sell on Amazon's site and continue to rip off people.



For those of you who have never ordered from BP Medical Supplies- STAY AWAY- THEY ARE BAIT AND SWITCH SCAM ARTISTS. I am very disappointed and very, very angry.

I have carried mylar thermal blankets along with me during my hikes to the north country here for decades. In addition to the many other uses mentioned here by others, I have used them before to actually sleep with just to experience it. And even though they are like curling up all cozy with a large plastic bag, they are nothing less than amazingly warm. Quite simply put, they enable you to radiate back as much of your own body heat as several wool blankets are capable of. However, there is one thing I feel I must add about sleeping with these blankets on a cold ground that doesn't seem to be covered by other reviewers. Remember that to keep warm, you must have as much insulation under you as over. At home, our mattress more than does the job. Out in the wilderness on the cold ground we are forced to improvise. If it comes a time that you really are in a survival situation, or just forced by whatever causes to be sleeping directly on a cold ground, remember to put as many of these thermals, (or any kind of blanket) under you as over. You would not believe the number of hikers and campers I have encountered that pile on the blankets on top of them, while putting just one underneath. And then wonder why they spent the entire night nearly freezing to death. In conclusion, one cannot recommend having these along on a hike or camping trip enough since they are so small and easy to tote along. Carrying one 4 pack of these thermals on any outdoor excursion is equivalent to toting 10 full size blankets. Something near impossible to manage in a back pack outing even if you wanted to. Considering their low cost, versatile uses, and life saving possibilities, one would be foolish not to pack them on any wilderness excursion, or include them as an essential addition in any survival kit. My own recommendation is don't leave home without them, and, buy them here on Amazon in bulk rather than at a sporting goods store, where they can easily cost you twice as much... - Survival - Backpacking - Emergency Kit - Emergency Supplies'

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Tactical Vest - holsters, vest

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Working cargo at an airport in the extremely early hours in Seattle I see my share of bad weather. I bought these pants for the grenade pockets, so I would have a place for my winter gloves. They work great for that, but the fabric is what I like most about them. They breathe well, and they keep the water out.

They don't stain or winkle, or snag on crates. They blouse into your boots easily without too big a pleat at the boot-top, and they don't have those thick seams that cause a hard lump just over your ankle bone. They wash clean with no stains and they dry fast and wrinkle free.

The pockets are great for keeping track of things. With nine pockets you can have dedicated compartments for everything you carry. It is like wearing a roll-top desk. You know where to reach for your pen or your flashlight. And you can keep specific paperwork in specific pockets every time.

Hey, what do you want from a pair of pants, world peace? Mens Black E.M.T. Zipper Fly Pants with 9 Pockets (Large)

I ordered these pants from their sizing chart and they pretty much match my jeans at home when i recerived them they said they were the right size on the tag but i couldnt fit them over my thighs they were about six sizes to small. they need to revamp their sizing charts.

These pants appear fairly sturdily made BUT you need to have the right body type to fit them well---i.e., slender and thin with not much in the way of hips. Due to the dearth of decently priced women's duty trousers in this multi-pocketed style I have pretty much resigned myself to having to buy men's pants. I have several pairs of men's pants of the same style by another manufacturer that are very comfortable, but I can no longer find them, so I opted to try the Rothco brand. I usually buy a small/regular but that size by this manufacturer is uncomfortably tight in the seat and thighs, though the waist fits. I tried a medium and although it is still somewhat snug in the hip and seat, I can tolerate it. The waist is too big and the length is too long but with a duty belt and with wearing boots it's not too noticeable. So if you are built fairly up and down with little curvature or like your pants snug, these might fit the bill. Otherwise, try another brand.

I have had the pants only a short time...perhaps they have been worn/washed 6-8 times. The other day I put my hand in my left front pocket only to have it tear along the seam. I do not put many items in this particular pocket. I was a little disappointed. Otherwise, the FIT, etc has been acceptable with these Pants. I was considering another purchase of this item...however, if they are going to do this I will make another selection.

I recently decided to buy these pants for work. when I got them I found that the sizing was so wide range that when I "fit" them to my waist, they were bunched up on the sides. considering that I have to tuck my white shirt in for work (like MOST EMTs do) I would have been walking around with pants that were obviously too big for me... even though they were supposed to fit between 5 different sizes. too bad. - Vest - Duty Belt - Holsters - Tactical Vest'

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Articulating Wall Mount - wall mount, lcd wall mount

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This mount is about the best I have seen yet. Looking locally, I couldn't find anything for less than $60 -$80 (even walmart). This came home for about $25. It mounts easily, comes with all hardware, it is black, just like the TV I mounted and the cables I strap to it to get them out of the way. The swing is very smooth, there is very little rock (side-to-side). The tilt (pitch) is very sturdy but adjustble. I don't have a single complaint about this unit. VideoSecu Articulating TV Wall Mount Bracket for VESA 100 LCD LED Flat Screen Monitor TV 1E9

Nice product, fairly well built, and attractive black powder coating. I mounted a 26" HDTV (22.8 lbs) on our bedroom wall. As others have mentioned, no rotation after installing makes it important that you measure carefully before drilling. Here's a couple tips that should help your install.



Before proceeding, I suggest that you tighten the arm hinges (using the supplied Allen wrench) to where you think they should be. They were fairly loose on the mount that I received. Reason being ... Their tightness changes the level of the TV bracket.



1st tip: First thing I noticed was that the top of the bracket that mounts on the TV was NOT parallel with the mount's arms when the mount was folded flat. Therefore, I mounted the vertical wall bracket (plate) so that the TV bracket was level; this meant that the wall bracket was NOT perfectly vertical, but just a "scosh" off vertical.



2nd tip: Even doing this, the TV was still not exactly level; close, but not "perfect". This time I took a round file to the screw holes on the TV bracket and elongated them to correct the rotation required to make the TV perfectly level. It didn't take much filing; less than 1/8".



That did it! TV hangs perfectly level now when flat against the wall, which is where it is used mostly. Swinging the TV out to "max" position from the wall, due to the slight "give" others have mentioned, the TV is a gnat's off from level, but this is low priority and tolerable.



One other point: If your TV/monitor is wider than 26", you won't be able to get it completely perpendicular to the wall, something to consider.

I purchased this mount to hang a 15" LCD TV, weighing less than 9 pounds (the specifications rate it up to 33 lbs). I carefully measured and used a level to mount the swing arm on the wall, but when I hung the TV, the position of the arms and the small amount of "give" between the arm segments caused the TV to hang at a slight, but noticable, angle. You can tighten the arm segment joints, which helps the problem somewhat, but you won't be able to swing the arm around once tightened. The swivel adjustments only allow you to change the side-to-side angle and the vertical tilt, there is no way to fix the rotation of the set.

This monitor arm is pretty cool, and great price point. I mounted a 26" LCD TV weighing like 32 LBS. Have not had a problem with it. I did need to make a trip to the hardware store for some longer screws than what was provided to connect to my TV.

I tend to be the engineer type, so looks don't win me over if a product is flawed below the surface. This mount looks good, if and when you catch a glimpse of it but most important to me, it is designed well. The joints lock and hold positions well because the design provides enough flat mating surface area. All of the major parts are solid cast, forged or machined.

Finally, after you have mounted a monitor or TV, this mount does not demand or call your attention back, it just does its job, `quietly', behind the scene.

I purchased this wall mount on the basis of other reviews. It was perfect for our need. Installation was very easy, the bracket was well made, moves easy (side to side, up and down). I put a 15" tv on it and I am well satisfied compared to other brackets that are 3 & 4 times the price. I give this bracket a 5 star rating.

I own 8 flat panel TV's, all of them wall mounted, for two (26"ers) of them I am using this particular bracket. I like the flexibility of these brackets, however, they are quite "wobbly" and that leaves me with great concern each time I adjust them. Only time will tell if they will hold up to the moderate usage they receive.

In one of the other reviews someone said something about the mount being lose or having some "give", I am thinking they may have recieved a bad mount and should send it back. I have a 23" LCD mounted with this bracket and its tight and holds the TV right where I set it. Now I can see where if you mounted it maybe a little off center where you could complain that they should have put a rotation(tilt) adjustment on it. But alas if you mount it level then you should have no problems. It was easy to mount and does what it should. A mount like this at a box store will cost you about $80, so you can't beat this price. The product is also very durable - Tv Wall Mount - Lcd Wall Mount - Monitor Wall Mount - Wall Mount'

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Based On The Play - jake gyllenhaal, mathematics

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Proof of a mathematical equation and proof of madness are the two driving forces in John Madden's film. Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) who cared for her brilliant mathematician father Robert (Anthony Hopkins) is afraid that she's inherited his other "gift"-mental illness. Catherine cared for her father Robert during the end. When Claire (Hope Davis) Catherine's sister arrives home for the funeral she expresses concern for Catherine's mental state. Catherine begins to doubt her own teetering sanity. Robert's assistant Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal) rummages around Robert's papers the night before and after the funeral trying to find an important equation her father was working on before he died. Featuring a group of strong performances, "Proof" is a compelling drama about grief, madness and emotional seclusion. Although Madden's drama suffers from the stage origins of the play but the emotional high wire act the cast performs makes it worthwhile. Whether or not there's "proof" of this film being a "great" film is based on how drawn into the drama you are by the appealing cast. A warning about some of the other reviews here--there good reviews but some of them have spoilers that give away a lot of the plot of the film. If you want to be surpised and enjoy the ride then I'd suggest you skip reading these reviews.



"Proof" looks extremely good here with natural skin tones, sharp image quality and nice definition. The 5.1 audio isn't exactly designed for the format since this a dialogue driven film but there is nice ambient sounds evident in the other speakers.



A clinical but interesting commentary track by John Madden is interesting to listen to but would have been enlightened by the cast's contribution. We also get deleted scenes none of which are revelations "From Stage to Screen" covers the adaptation of the stage play to film. One of the challenges was staying true to the stage roots while opening up the player and making it less stage bound. Producer Allison Owen makes an interesting comment-she imagined the film as the type of film that would have been made in the 70's where moving and powerful drama was still king in theaters. The cast and Madden discuss their characters and what attracted them to the project. Madden comments that many audience members thought that the play was like watching a movie which is a bit unusual but that was because of the fact that the play was told from a variety of different points of view and the staging.



A fine film that touches on madness, emotional isolation and the fear of what lies down the road for anyone; "Proof" is a fascinating drama that works amazingly well due to the strong performances. Madden who worked with Paltrow in "Shakespeare in Love" clearly connects with Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. Proof

It's interesting that most people tend to have a problem with the screenplay for this movie, when it is almost word for word the stage play, which is renowned for its elegance and simplicity. Perhaps the issue comes up in the flashbacks and the ending, both of which disagree with the play. Still, as a stage adaptation to film, Proof does the job beautifully. The characters remain true to their original 2-dimensionality; it is the apparent lack of emotion that actually lends itself to intense feelings from the viewer.

PROOF is one of those rare films that transfers a superb play directly to the screen without losing a bit of the power of the play, but enhancing the story with the advantages of the camera. With a tough story like this one it takes a brilliant cast and director to fine-tune the work and in this instance it all works to perfection.



The story is well known from all the PR of the theatrical screening: recounting it in a review does not add or subtract the importance of the film or the experience of the viewer. The premise, mathematician Robert (Anthony Hopkins) and his caretaker daughter Catherine (Gweneth Paltrow) who also is an uncommonly bright 27-year-old mathematics mind and has spent the glowing years of her youth caring for her recently deceased father. They converse in flashbacks, a means of realizing the closeness of their bond emotionally, mentally, and probably parallel mental illness proclivities. Robert left notebooks filled with thoughts and clues to a complex mathematical proof and Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal), a devoted admirer of Robert's genius, is organizing the thoughts and deciphering the meanings of Robert's scribblings. Catherine's estranged sister Claire (Hope Davis) arrives to 'settle' the matters left by Robert's demise and becomes the camera that brings focus to the fact that Catherine has inherited not only her father's genius but his mental fragility as well. How this quartet - Robert, Catherine, Hal, Claire - serve to unravel the findings of Robert's (and Catherine's) legacy is the essence of this gripping tale.



A more powerful group of actors for this film would be difficult to find. One expects the brilliance of Paltrow's performance since she had time with the character on the stage, and Hopkins can toss these bizarre characters off with grace and aplomb. But it is the pleasure of seeing Davis and Gyllenhaal rise to the same level of expertise that makes the film glow. This is an example of ensemble acting of the highest form and director Madden conducts the performance with sensitivity and momentum. The result is a treasureable, intelligent, powerful film that challenges the mind while entertaining all the senses. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 06

John Madden, who directed Shakespeare in Love (1998), and David Auburn, who wrote the script (adapted from his play), have put together a moving story about mathematical genius admixed with mental instability much in the manner of the life of John Nash who was the subject of A Beautiful Mind (2001).



Nash was a paranoid schizophrenic who was tormented by voices in his head warning him of dangers and conspiracies that didn't exist. Like Nash, Robert (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant mathematician who, having done spectacular work in his early twenties, goes crazy. Unlike Nash he is never able to regain control of "the machinery," as he calls his mind, and is never able to do any worthwhile work again.



Or is he? As he is taken care of by his mathematically astute daughter, Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow in a most affecting and beguiling performance) he fills scores of notebooks with intense writings. At one point he seems in remission and at another point Catherine rushes home to find him in out in the backyard in the middle of a snowy night fired with enthusiasm about his latest work. At another point, he and Catherine work together on a project. And herein lies the crux of the matter. As we discover, this project turns out to be a proof of a difficult mathematical theorem or conjecture that will be internationally celebrated if it is correct.



Jake Gyllenhaal plays Hal, one of Robert's students who is going through his mentor's papers in the hope of discovering something wonderful. Catherine tells him that among the 103 notebooks that her father filled during his days of mental instability there is not a single one that has anything of value in it. But when Hal wins her heart she produces a notebook that was locked away in a drawer. It turns out that this notebook contains that most amazing proof mentioned above. And it is here that Catherine says--in line that is so very well set up that her expression fairly takes your breath away--"I wrote it."



Well, did she or didn't she? Because the work seems to be in her father's handwriting and seems to be well beyond her abilities, her sister Claire, played in that clever but somewhat annoying style that Hope Davis has so perfected (About Schmidt; American Splendor), claims that Catherine is deluded and couldn't have written it. To Catherine's grievous disappointment Hal reluctantly agrees, and this seeming lack of faith in her sends Catherine toward the precipice of insanity. This is the key question of the plot. Who wrote the proof? Its resolution will be the denouement of the story.



Clearly Claire believes that Catherine is so like her father that she is about to go crazy herself. So she tells Catherine she wants to sell the house now that their father is dead and bring Catherine to New York where she lives so that she can take care of her.



Will Catherine go or will she trust her heart and begin a life with Hal?



This movie does not play well with some audiences I think because the wonderment that some of the characters feel--the absolute awe that transfigures them when they behold a great mathematical proof, is not entirely appreciated by the average person. Madden makes sure that Catherine, Hal and one of the mathematicians form on their faces an expression something akin to a religious enthrallment when they understand the thrilling logic of the proof. I suspect that for many viewers something was lost in the translation. Consequently, although many others, including myself, believe this to be one of the outstanding movies of 2005 it only rates a 7.0 at IMDb and was not nominated for any Academy Awards. Paltrow won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Shakespeare in Love, also directed by Madden (he seems to bring out the best in her), and that award was richly deserved. But here in Proof I believe she was every bit as good (in a different way) although she was only nominated for a Golden Globe award and did not win.



Another thing about this movie is that it is strangely affecting emotionally. You might find yourself misting up a bit as you watch. I know I did.



See this for Gwyneth Paltrow, a gifted actress giving one of her best performances, and for John Madden, a director who makes beautiful movies with style and finesse. - Mathematics - Jake Gyllenhaal - Drama - Anthony Hopkins'

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Based On The Play - jake gyllenhaal, mathematics jake gyllenhaal Based On The Play - jake gyllenhaal, mathematics

Wet Erase Markers - dry erase board, dryerase

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I bought this to accompany a portable white board I had purchased.

The markers all work well as expected, and the spray is nice when the board is extra dirty.

The eraser works alright, but it can get pretty beat up after a bit of use.

I would suggest getting another eraser because the one that comes in this kit is pretty basic, it's made out of styrofoam like material and feels a bit flimsy. Expo 6-Piece Original Dry Erase Marker Starter Kit

The whiteboards in the room I was assigned to this year are rather of old, misused (posters and flyers were taped on them), and marker absorbs into them very easily. I could not get them clean unless I used Expo spray cleaner, a lot of it, and rubbed for a long time with a soft paper towel. I used Quartet to recondition my boards, but the ink still sank in, smeared, and ghosted horribly.



Then I switched markers from Marks-a-lot to Expo markers, and FINALLY my boards erase clean! This ink does not sink in and stain the surface. The eraser works well (better than my old one), and the cleaner is good to have around as well. I'm so glad I no longer have to spray cleaner and waste paper towels on my board everyday.



If you can't get your boards clean, it could be your markers. I'll only use Expo now.

This is a decent starter set of dry erase markers but the eraser it comes with is just absolute garbage. It's made of styrofoam, has no weight to it, and feels like its going to blow out of your hand any second. I guess using plastic was cutting too much into their profit margins. When you consider how cheap the eraser is, you're basically paying 8 bucks for 4 markers and a small bottle of cleaning spray.

My family uses our white board for; lists, to do items, general communication notes etc... Well eventually we needed new markers and these do the trick - cheaper to buy then at the store (like everything else on Amazon) and work great!

As a college student, I wanted a starter set that gives me both flexibility and value- and this set delivered. The markers aren't the best, but they do the trick. My roommate and I mostly worked on equations, brainstormed, and wrote notes to each other on a whiteboard in our room. It was nice. I think the blue worked the best, and didn't really care for the green- especially against the sunlight in our room that often made the green turn too light. Other than than, no complaints.

The set is a good one and the markers are nice and strong. The eraser is rather impressionable, so dont use your nails on it or it's have little dents everywhere. It bothers me a bit, but may be fine otherwise! The cleaning fluid is also good, but mak sure to keep it on a couple of seconds before wiping.

These markers are great. They last well and color great. They also erase better than other markers so that the board is more easily cleaned. I have bought other brands before that have in no way compared to this brand. I would recommend these to others.

A four by six foot Expo white board has been on the wall of my office for years. As easy as the white board is to use, I still miss the look of the old slate chalk boards. Of course, I do not miss the messiness of the chalk dust that used to get over everything. I had no idea that there were black dry erase boards. Now, I have one! I just received an Expo black board and neon marker combo. I love it.



The black board now sits on the wall above my desk. It attaches to the wall magnetically. I can write on it with the neon markers that came with the kit. They all show up well. It looks like the black boards that restaurants use for posting the specials-of-the-day. Post-it notes stick to it, as do magnets. These cute black boards can be obtained separately from the markers. They come in 8.5 x 11 inch and 10 x 10 inch sizes.



I tested the neon markers on the new black board as well as on my large white board. The neon markers show up well on black, but only the pink color can be read easily on the white board. The neon dayglow on black looks great. The neon markers can also be purchased separately.



In the interest of science, I also tested the white board markers on the black board. I tried blue, red, green and black. Although, they are great on the white board, they are not at all visible on the black board.



The one necessary item that did not come with the combo kit is an eraser Fortunately, I already had a standard Expo eraser. It erases the neon writing easily. A paper towel also works.



Altogether, I am very happy with my new black board, the old white board, the markers, and eraser. I cannot wait until they come out with larger black boards, so that I can satisfy my retro leanings with the new technology. - Dryerase - Boards - Dry Erase - Dry Erase Board'

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Office Supplies - pencil sharpeners, non-electric

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I use pencils of various sizes when I do sketches in my art book. And I always do the sketches with with this handy pencil sharpener at the ready. I am pretty fixated about always having a sharp edge when I draw or write with a pencil. So naturally, this is the perfect companion to have for someone like me. The bottom case holds a good amount of pencil shavings. This beats any electric sharpeners I have used over the years and it is portable so you can take it anywhere. Plus it is very durable. I have not noticed any dullness in the blades even after using it for about a year.



If you are looking for a pencil sharpener, get this one. It beats most electric sharpeners and it sharpens them more also. Staedtler Tub Pencil Sharpeners double-hole sharpener

This sharpener is very well constructed and sharpens a nice point,it also has a good feel to it.I think it will last. I bought this to replace several sorry electric and manual pencil sharpeners around the house.There are alot of poorly designed products out there.You would think it ain't rocket science.Most of them do not work well out of the box.

This is a very good sharpener. It is a hand held model that I use at home. It is compact and sturdy. With very little effort one can sharpen their pencil to a very sharp, centered point.

I recommend this for those who, like me, just need to sharpen a pencil now and then. However, if I were running a business I would consider buying a few of these and chaining them down around various places in the office to prevent theft. They are that good!!

I got this thinking it would be great based on other reviews here, but I don't like it. It is sharp and is certainly better than most that are this style as far as cutting ability, but what I hate about it is the angle of the edge it puts on the pencil. Very little lead is exposed and it doesn't make a nice tip at the end. If you are like me and want the pencil edge to be "standard" avoid this thing. I would return it, but at this cost I will just toss it and find another one.

This is just a nice, high quality, well built pencil sharpener. The pieces don't come apart in my bag. The little cover clips away nicely when you're not using it. The two sharpeners are precise and create a very nice pencil-point. I appreciate the color-sharpener because I like to use a lot of col-erase pencils, and the color pencil-point tends to break when you use a regular sharpener.

I've had a number of sharpeners, but none like this. It is the best one that I've purchased so far. The blades are very sharp, and the container holds a small amount of garbage. I've been using this sharpener for a few years, and the quality is superb...it still sharpens my pencil colors like on the first day I bought it.

This review is for the Staedtler 512-001 A6 "Tub" pencil sharpener.

I use red and yellow colored pencils at work - either Ticonderoga or Col-Erase brand. We have a standard AC powered pencil sharpener from Panasonic but it doesn't work very well with colored pencils. It doesn't leave enough wood surrounding the pencil tips and they break off easily. Colored pencils have leads that are both soft and brittle. I measured the sharpening angle of the Panasonic and it's only 16 degrees. No wonder it never worked very well with colored pencils.



The Staedtler sharpener has two holes: 23 degrees and 30 degrees.

Either one works well with colored pencils. It's a vast improvement over the standard old Panasonic office sharpener. The 30 degree hole is larger than a standard Col-Erase colored pencil diameter, so it's not as easy to use as I would wish, but it's still usable. (Based on that, I would give it 4.5 stars). The 23 degree hole is the standard pencil size diameter and it works well with colored pencils, so it's no real problem.



See the photos I posted and read the captions for more information.

Ok, I'll give. There _IS_ a difference between pencil sharpeners.



Over time the kids have had their own. Either from the local dollar store or Walmart (usually in the 3-5 dollar range). All of them were built cheaply and worked, but not very well.



Figured I'd get the "best" one I could find on Amazon and this one stuck out due to all the 5 star reviews. Willing to gamble, I threw it in the cart and ordered. I was not disappointed!



The kids actually treat the sharpeners as something special (only daddy is allowed to use it for them) and love to have their pencils sharpened by it. Pencil sharpeners really don't deserve that sort of reverence, but I will give it to this one - it works REALLY well.



We don't use the other hole. Just the one for standard pencils. However, for what it does, it does it very well. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one just to have around and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone else in the market.



If it wasn't for this sharpener, I likely would have purchased an over-priced electric one. Really happy that so many left honest feedback, so paying it forward by doing the same. This is a good buy :)

I've had it for a few months and it still works. I've bought some cheap ones and also more expensive ones before, this is the only one that hold its use for more than 2 months. It is very smooth and easy to sharpen a pencil with it. I do find a couple of cons. First, the pencil tip (lead exposed) is a bit too short, second, it takes a little effort to open the tub to dump wooden scraps out.



All in all, what really matters to me is it still works after a few months. Don't waste money on the $ cheap ones or $20-$30 electric ones. This one just works well. - Best Pencil Sharpener - Non-electric - Pencil Sharpeners - Home Office'

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Ipod Touch - iphone 3g charger, ipod touch

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THIS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE IPHONE 3G. The 3G software gave me the same message for both the wall charger and the car charger -- saying that the charger was not compatible and that it would not allow charging. The charger is labeled as an IPod charger, and no more. The USB connector seemed to work fine. Apple iPhone 3G Charger Kit 3 Piece Set - Travel / Wall Charger, Car Charger, and 2.0 2in1 Charging Sync USB Data Cable

The quality of the product is not up to Apple standards, but neither is the price. 8-) These are basic, no-frills accessories.



PRO: Cheap, cheap, cheap. Works well with my 2nd-gen iPod touch.



CON: The dock connector on the data cable and the car charger is larger than that on Apple's cable. If you have a case with a particularly small opening (such as the fantastic SwitchEasy Neo Crystal), it may not fit without some modification. (No modification necessary for the wall charger's smaller plug.)



NOTE: The products I received WERE NOT the products pictured. I received a wall charger with a much smaller, sideways-oriented transformer. The data cable I received was a sturdy cable rather than the rather flimsy retractable one in the picture. These differences may be why my assessment differs from the earlier reviews of this product.

The items feel very generic and cheap but they are all compatible with my 2G Ipod Touch. I've heard of generic chargers causing problems for some people's ipods but nothing has happened with mine. I just remember it's charging and disconnect as soon as it's done.



Update: Car charger no longer works. I've only used it twice. - Iphone 3g Charger - Ipod Touch'

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Finish Nailers - finish nailer, brad nailer

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These nails work perfectly with my DeWalt D51275K 15 gauge angled finish nailer, and the size/shape of the reuseable plastic case they come in is handy for holding extra nails in the tool belt or even your back pocket.



Not mentioned in the Amazon description is the following included with the nails: "Fits SENCO SFN40; AccuSet A250FN; Craftsman 18432, 18442; DeWalt D51275K; Porter-Cable DA250A." There are 700 nails in the pack. I can't speak for the other brands, but I know the DeWalt can be finickey about nails, and it definitely likes these.



I purchased my DeWalt nailer from Amazon, and at the time they were offering $25 off purchases over $199. To hit that number, the only thing I could think of was to get a variety of nails, so I added these AccuSet 2-1/2" nails, along with a pack of 2" nails and a pack of 1-1/2" nails to the shopping cart. A variety of nail sizes that work good with my nailer practically for free. Can't beat that. Senco A302500 15-Gauge x 2-1/2 Inch Bright Basic Finish Nail

THE ACCUSET 2 1/2" NAIL WAS PERFECT FOR NAILING DOWN MY SUB FLOOR IN MY NEW DINING ROOM,ALSO I NEEDED TO HANG THICK WIDE CROWN MOLDING AND THIS ACCUSET NAIL WAS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR THESE JOBS..LET ME ALSO SAY THE FLOOR OR MOLDING AINT GOING ANYWHERE WITH THESE NAILS SECURING THEM DOWN

Nail never jammed , worked like it stated, everything I needed it to do it did ... If you are looking for a good, reliable 2.5" finish nail , then this is it... not a sexy review, but not a sexy product... this nail does what it is suppose to do - Finish Nailer - Finish Nailers - Brad Nailer - Nail Gun'

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