High Definition - digital camera, sony camera

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**Updated June 30, 2011**



After our trip to Disneyland and California Adventures I have a few issues with this camera. When using it in a setting like this; IE turning it on and off, focusing and zooming, quick shots in an array of settings... she didn't do so well. The biggest issues was focusing. I was wondering why this camera wouldn't focus at times when the settings didn't change. Turns out that I had to turn the camera off and back on, almost like I had to reset it. NOT COOL! At a theme park like this where you need to get the shot on the fly, I was getting very frustrated. I still like this camera, but things like this reinforce that my next camera will be a DSLR. I know it's still a point and shoot camera but something like this is unforgiveable. I'll be heading to San Diego next and I'll keep an eye out for this. Oh... get another battery for this puppy as well. I took about 245 shots and two short videos before my camera went out. THAT was my fault. :-)



**I've had this camera for about three weeks now. Did not know my review would be this long. Sorry.** :-)



After months of looking, researching, web surfing, asking friends, bugging friends, waiting, and Google picture searching, I have FINALLY chosen the Sony Cybershot DX9 as my next point and shoot camera. A tiny bit of history: My first digital camera was a Sony Cybershot DSCN1 8.1 MP and was an absolutely magnificent camera. I had it for 5 years before I fatally dropped and killed it. My second digital camera was the Sony DSC-T99 and the absolute WORST camera I have ever owned! I had no problem being loyal to Sony because of the DSCN1 but they almost ruined it with the T99! So I made it a point to do so much research for my next camera, Dan Brown would be jealous. I used so many websites to do my research I felt like that geek who started FaceBook.



Here are the cameras that were in the running: Canon Power Shot SX230HS, Sony Cybershot DSC-WX9, Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, and the Nikon Coolpix S9100.



Given everything that today's P&S cameras possess, I was just looking for one thing: it had to take very good pictures. Period. I know, I know, I know... get a DSLR. Maybe one day, but for today I just want a P&S that could fit in my pocket grab that perfect shot. I KNOW for a fact that P&S cameras can take great photos because I had one, the DSCN1. So I know it could happen; I just wanted it to happen again. Having panorama shots, 3-D, Hi-Def video, GPS, and other bells and whistles are all well and good but (again) I just wanted a camera that would echo or exceed the pictures my DSCN1 took. I'll try and post links to the picture albums that I took with my various cameras so you can see the difference in picture quality.

This first initial posting of this review will be a condensed journal or sorts with me adding stuff willy-nilly as I learn more and experience more with this camera.



Here goes...



Control Wheel: After a few days of use (and taking pictures of every useless thing I could think of) I have grown weary of the control wheel. This is easily the albatross around the neck of this camera. I have started teaching myself to use the "menu" button because it is much easier to navigate than the wheel. My problem with the wheel is that it's extremely sensitive and you need to have fingers the size of Tom Thumb to work it with no problems. Now, I WAS able to get the hang of it after practice... but why bother when I can get to the EXACT same functions with the "menu" button? However, don't get me wrong here, the control wheel is a very important functioning part of this camera, and Sony has worked it so that you have to use it to get to a lot of the different scenes. All I'm saying is that the less you use it the smoother your working of this camera will be. (PLEASE bring back the touch screen Sony).



The menu: While nice, takes some getting used to but once you do, you'll fly through it. There was a little scratching of my head when I was trying to figure out the difference between "intelligent auto" and "superior auto". I imagine there were some chuckles in the board room on that one. There is also a small delay when passing the 3-D icon. I imagine this is because the camera has to set itself for a whole different set of parameters when doing that. Nothing big, but worth a mention.



Focus: Focusing is good on regular shots, but not great when you use the full aspect of the 5x zoom. It could be better and the pictures do lose some of that "bite" when you get in a little too far, but I think that is just par for the course with a P&S. (right?)



Movies: Admittedly I've only taken a few token videos only because I wanted to see if I could. I don't see myself using this feature a lot, but if I come across something good I'll let you know. The test videos I have taken have turned out very nice and VERY clear. Sony also gives you three video settings to choose from; highest image quality (1920x1080/24M), high image quality (1920x1080/17M), and standard image quality (1440x1080/9M). I also like the fact that you can zoom while filming and that you can snap pictures while filming video.



Picture quality in regular light: this is a paradox for me so I'll try to be as clear as I can. The pictures this camera takes are very good. But I was honestly looking for something a lot better since they have had five years of work since the DSCN1. At best the picture quality equals the picture quality of the DSCN1. Again, this would be OK if this camera was only one year out from the previous model... but not five. I'm happy with the pictures, I just expected more. There is also (sometimes) the issue of when you don't use the provided software to extract the pictures; there is sometimes a small black "void" near the bottom of the video and pictures. Action shots are a breeze with this camera as well.



Picture quality in medium light: These are pretty good as well. In the WX9 picture album I put in a picture of a gorgeous nighttime sky. That was taken without a tripod and a preset (I'm sorry I can't remember which one) scene setting. The indoor picture I took were OK too... as long as I didn't zoom in too much. That zoom really is not this camera's friend. You will see more grain with the indoor pictures if you blow them up. If you don't blow the pictures up the size of posters you'll be OK.



Picture quality in low light: In this case my low light was 1 candle. We had a power outage about two days ago and I was able to play with this feature while smarter people than myself tried to figure out why I didn't have power but the house directly behind me did. Taking pictures in low light is not for the novice. You don't have to be a pro, but knowing where to place the camera and using the tripod is a must. The pictures turned out pretty well but still not as well as my former DSCN1. The handheld shots were a little grainy, but that is to be expected. Again, my only disappointment was that these pictures were only as good as my previous Sony. The tripod pictures, of course, turned out much better. Grain only showed up when I blew the picture up on my laptop. What turned out to be a nice surprise was that the "background de-focus" mode worked in the low light. BONUS! I tried every low light setting this camera offered and was pretty pleased... as long as I was using my tripod. Without it the pictures were not good, but that's my fault not Sony's. Sony is touting its new Exmor R CMOS sensor pretty hard. They advertise that it will deliver "stunning" low light pictures. It delivers very good low light pictures but "stunning" is pushing it.



Battery: So far so good. When it is fully charged I have no worries that it won't last out what I'm trying to do. I can't tell you how it runs at ½ charge and below because I'm the type of guy that recharges all of my gadgets at night so that I'll be ready to go. And since you can charge this camera using your laptop with the supplied tiny USB cord, you should be in good shape on the days of heavy shooting. Just for giggles I did run the power down using the slideshow feature and `Planet Rock' music I downloaded. It took a little over two hours at ¾ battery power.



3-D: I haven't been able to see pictures on a 3-D TV but when you take a 3-D picture with this camera, you CAN see it 3-D. It's slight but it is there. You can also see the 3-D picture without the use of those Amish-ugly 3-D glasses. It's actually pretty cool.



Summation: Taken everything into consideration I am happy with this camera so far. I take it everywhere with me and its small enough to fit in my pants pocket without that embarrassing bulge. I think this camera will easily fit your needs for a very good P&S camera and then some. Yeah, I'll always wish back to the days of the DSCN1, but until someone invents a *working* time machine I'll happily use my new WX9.



Pros:

* The LCD screen is stunningly gorgeous. So much so that the pictures look better on my camera than they do on my laptop. (#crappylaptopfail).

* Beautiful camera design.

* The video is beautiful.

* Image quality***. (see above)

* Plenty of shooting modes to choose from.

* Very light and a great size to throw in your pocket or purse.

* I love how you can switch the corporate elevator music with music of your choice for the slideshow playback. The only drawback is that you have to use Sony's supplied software on the CD they give you. Unfortunately it's typical gimmicky photo software that you can EASILY do without. I installed it just to give it a test run and I'm going to keep it ONLY because I want to use it to switch the music. Seriously, how cool is it that now I can play `Planet Rock' while showing my pictures? BONUS!!



Cons:

* I'm not a big fan of the control wheel. If you have big fingers I feel bad for you. Too many times I kept inadvertently kept hitting the button in the middle as I was trying to switch modes. DSCN1 had a touch screen and why they got rid of that I will NEVER know.

* Image quality (I know, I know... how can it be a pro and a con?). While the image quality is good, I still find myself wishing back to the picture quality of the DSCN1. The picture aren't *bad* but I expected a lot more after five years of technology between cameras.

* While using the video feature you can hear the camera if you use the zoom.

* If you have the money, there are better point and shoot cameras that can handle low light photography better.

Side Notes:

* The battery can be charged via a battery pack plugged into camera and plugged into wall, or USB cord plugged into camera plugged into computer.

* I use a Transcend 4GB Class 10 SDHC memory card as my main baby and a Lexar 8GB Class 2 memory card for backup and extra storage.



* If you have any other questions please feel free to ask me here or e-mail me at [...] and I'll do my best.



* Because someone ALWAYS asks, this camera was not on a strict lay down date and I was able to order it through a camera store in another state (I live in CA). That's how I got it "early".



Sony DSCN1 Picture Album -[...] Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black) - Sony Camera - Cyber Shot - High Definition - Digital Camera'

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Wedding Valentines Gift Wrap Wrapping Pa...

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The year that I purchased this wrapping paper, my Christmas theme was black and white. I searched the stores for black and white paper and could not find it anywhere. I came to Amazon and found the striped and polka dot. Good Quality. Everyone loved it! Trendy Brand New Polka Dot Black & White Gift Wrap Wrapping Paper Roll 16 Foot'

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Porter Cable - carpentry, kreg

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If you are a serious woodworker, this is by far THE best router table to buy. I bought the complete table, fence, stand, casters & micro-adjuster. Every little piece of hardware was accounted for and very neatly packaged. The reliability and accuracy of the fence make it very easy to use. And if you don't want to drill the insert yourself, for 3o bucks, Kreg will drill it for you, shipping included.



The assembly instructions were written in simple, easy-to-understand English and not like the 'Chinglish' from other manufacturers who outsourced their products. This router table examplifies American ingenuity & workmanship. It's definitely a 5-star rating. (3 box set) Kreg PRS1040 Precision Router Table System

The 3 star rating is not meant to reflect the usefulness of the product or the accuracy of the work one can perform with it. It is a reflection of the robustness of some key components.



The stand is very sturdy as is the laminate coated table top and the actual aluminium fence. There are some weak areas. The phenolic insert accepts either of 2 reducing rings. These rings are held in place by screws which are threaded into very small, very fragile threaded holes in the phenolic insert. It is extremely easy to strip the threads in the phenolic insert by over-tightening. There is no positive "stop" when the screws are in far enough. Exercise extreme care when installing the reducing rings.



More disappointingly, the aluminium assembly which attaches the fence to the levered glide (and the glide itself) which attaches to the guide on the side of the table are extremely fragile. The assembly is held to the levered glide by 4 machine screws with brass washers. I stripped the threads in the aluminium parts tightening one of those screws, using a hand screwdriver gripped by my fingers only (i.e. I did not grab the screwdriver with a "fist grip"). I'm a lawyer and I am not noted for my death grip. There are 2 nylon screws which take the slop out of the levered glide. When I assembled my table one went in perfectly while the other cross-threaded as it entered the second piece of metal.



This is not the first tool I have had to assemble from a myriad of parts. It is, however, one of the most fragile.



The fence is billed as being similar to a table saw fence. In my view, that is a bit of marketing hyperbole. The fence does have a locking lever at one end like a table saw fence. Engaging the lever does not, however, lock the fence perpendicular to the side of the table. There is a tall twist knob at the opposite end of the fence that you tighten after aligning the fence properly. It certainly isn't a bad system, just not as effective as a table saw fence.

Sweet table! I'm not a master woodworker or great furniture maker, but this table is one of the greatest additions I've made to my shop in quite awhile. Smooth operation, easy to use and accurate. You won't be disappointed. The only item I'll add is a router lift.

Let me get the zero stars for Amazon out of the way first. To be fair, I have bought a bunch of stuff from Amazon - my first stop for shopping. I've only had to return one other item, and that return was handled perfectly, since I just dealt with their computer system. But this time, I had to deal with their customer service people.



I ordered this item, using the Amazon Prime free shipping program. It arrived right on time. There were three boxes in the shipment, one for the stand, one for the table top, and one for the fence. All three had obviously been dropped, presumably by UPS, on a corner. During assembly, it came to light that the table top was smashed on the corner where it was dropped. I contacted Amazon to return it, and the past 2-1/2 weeks has been a nightmare of really bad customer service. First of all, they sent me a UPS paid return label. For one box, not three. I sent an email and asked for them to fix that. They sent me another one, same deal. I then called customer service. Fast forwarding to today, of the five times i have spoken to the Amazon customer service, on only two of those times have I been able to understand the person on the other end of the phone. The rest of the time, it has been someone with a very heavy accent who mumbled.



On the first call, they told me to put the whole thing into one box and send it in a single shipment. I reminded them that it was unlikely that UPS would pick up a box that weighed in excess of 200 pounds. So they said that they would have UPS pick it up at my office. Except that they didn't tell UPS to do so. Call #3 got them to actually tell UPS to pick it up. At the wrong address, and only one box. Call #4 got cut off after waiting for 15 minutes to get transferred to a supervisor. Finally, on call #5, I talked to a very delightful lady who seemed to understand what needed to be done. We'll see -- they are supposed to pick it up tomorrow.



When the return process first began, they entered a new order for a replacement. It was scheduled to be shipped in June. I can't wait that long, so I told them to give me a refund. Sure hope I get it. In the meantime, I bought this router table at the local Woodcraft store. Paid more, but I have the table in my shop now.



Now about the Five stars rating for the product itself. This is a really great router table. I gave this review four stars, because Kreg was partly at fault for the damage mine received. If they had designed their packaging better, the damage probably wouldn't have happened. The padding in the box was a piece of styrofoam 1/4" thick and some corrugated cardboard. MDF is not that sturdy. It needs at least 2" of foam padding.



But the table itself is wonderful. The stand is built like an Abrams tank, and the table is a nice size. The fence works exactly like they say it does. Square and easy to use. So the product gets five starts, Kreg gets four stars, and Amazon gets zero stars for bad customer service.



Update 5/7/08: I've used the router table quite a bit now. It is still as great as I noted above. I've started to build cabinets and drawers in the stand below the table top, but find there's not a lot of room for that. The sawdust collection is pretty good above the table, but the floor quickly gets several inches deep in the stuff that falls through the opening in the top. Part of my cabinet plans below the table include a fix for that.



It is now about two weeks after I wrote the above review. Five additional contacts with Amazon just resulted in UPS going to the wrong address again to pick it up. But a conversation with the UPS guy at my office may have broken the stalemate. He said he'd be back this afternoon to pick it up. Grand total contacts with Amazon customer service are now in excess of ten, and the latest advice of the pickup says I may be charged for the return shipping costs. For a damaged item.



Update on 6/25/10: Now that I've used this router table for a couple years, I still love it. But, I managed to misplace the two plastic rods that are used to move the left side of the router fence out for special work. I contacted Kreg to buy some new ones. Maybe I am cynical, but I was surprised to have them tell me that they would be happy to send me a new set at no charge. We talked for a few additional minutes and I got some tips on using my router table. Friends, if you don't have a jointer but find you need one, this table's for you! Use those plastic rods to move the left fence forward, put in a long straight-cutting bit, align the left fence with the bit, and you've got a jointer. Works great. I jointed about 150 linear feet of 8/4 oak and edge-glued it with perfect results. I may still buy a jointer, but that purchase has gone down in priority. Thank you, Kreg, for wonderful customer service and product support.



And let me add one more item: Woodpeckers ([..], many items sold on Amazon) sells an aluminum plate to install a Porter Cable 121 portable oscillating spindle sander into a router table. I bought one of the plates and the sander. I now have a table-mounted oscillating spindle sander that is the rival of anything Delta or others sell, without taking up nearly as much of my shop space. Fantastic setup. - Carpentry - Porter Cable - Router - Kreg'

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Crayola - school supplies, crayons

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When I bought the crayola 'silly scents' markers I was looking forward to having 20 scented markers. The title makes it seem like they are all scented. However, only five of the markers were scented. We were very disappointed and felt that the packaging was deceptive. Crayola 20ct Washable Super Tips with Silly Scents

I purchased these markers at the local grocery store, wanting to increase my children's color choices for markers. Because I had them in my hand, I saw that there were only 5 scented markers, so that wasn't a problem. We have several sets of Crayola's broad tip washable markers. When my 3 year old used them on the coffee table and made a few marks off the paper, I thought, no problem Crayola's washable markers always come off. Not this time- after several washings, the marks are still there.

My son is 16 months old. He recently became very interested in pens. Enjoys opening pens and putting the caps back by himself. Since ball pens and regular markers in our house leave stain on his hands and clothes, I searched for washable and non-toxic markers. These markers are exactly what we were looking for. I like the fact that they are washable and non-toxic. And work for my son. - Coloring - Crafts - Crayons - School Supplies'

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Book Recommendations

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I picked up Steiner's book the other day and began reading through it. I bounced between the chapters for a while, but finally settled in and took my time to pick through his chapters in order. Instead of writing about whether or not I agree with each of his points, I'd like to make a general statement about Steiner's approach with this book.



To begin with, it is too easy and common to capitalize on fear. You can always come up with myriad ways in which something that is happening right now is going to make the future worse. It is easy to write, it is easy to sell, it is easy to gain an audience. In short, it is easy to sell fear. However, what do we really learn from fear? The answer is easy. We learn nothing. It hinders us from making rational and intelligent choices, it keeps us from planning appropriately, and it hinders tolerance and development.



Steiner decided to take the more difficult path with this book and focusses on rational thought for our future as fuel prices continue to rise. Steiner gathered up information, made an informed decision, and presented ideas for discussion. Furthermore, he took a more positive approach with it. That is what really sets this book apart. Instead of looking for an easy fear story to sell, the author points out the benefits.



Steiner did not take the easy route with this book. He went after a difficult topic to open it up for discussion. Whether or not you agree with the author's ideas and conclusions, you will come away from this book thinking more in depth about our fossil fuel usage. $20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better

I have spend my last 40 years in the energy business and can tell you that most of Christopher Steiner's predictions are on the money, he readily identified a number of weaknesses and urban myths about the future of energy, nailing the key changes that will occur. In my opinion he is 95% correct, so why only three stars?



He really misses the boat by thinking provincially. This is a book written by an American for Americans and doesn't address how this future affects the rest of the world and America's place in it. He talks about the growth of high speed rail, like has occurred in Europe and Japan. The problem is that the Europeans and Japanese have been investing in infrastructure for future during the last fifty years. America hasn't made ANY of these investments and is nearly bankrupt now, not even being able to afford Social Security, Medicare or any number of other current programs.



The only way that American can afford the more Utopian future that Steiner predicts is by vastly increasing taxes which will stifle industry and move even more businesses abroad. America is at a crossroads that will determine if we will be a third world country with the world's largest military, or if America will adjust to the changing world and be a leader in the new world order. This is something that he glosses over in one paragraph near the end of the book.



The information in this book is important and can provide a road map for the future, but only if readers and the government take it to heart. Unfortunately, through Steiner's provincial outlook the reader is forced to "read between the lines" for the clues that will allow government, businesses and individuals to prosper in the coming storm.

The book's structure - chapters going up with the price of gas - is elegant and clever.



It's a fascinating breakdown of how gas prices affect our world and how, in a world of higher and higher prices, how we'll adjust. The relationship between gas prices and car fatalities - wow. The relationship between gas prices and obesity? That's simply amazing. But when you think about, it makes perfect sense, as the supporting research shows.



There are so many great characters throughout the book, from the farmer in Chapter $16 to the driver of the electric UPS truck in Chapter $10. The commerical carp fishermen have to take the cake, though! I've read about Shai Agassi before, but his mission always amazes me.



I almost think there could have been an additional chapter on the psychology of Americans regarding gas prices. There almost seems to be a sense of entitlement with many people, a sense that they're owed low gas prices and it's the government's job to keep them low. We treat gasoline, for some reason, differently than anything else.



But oil is a wild, wild market. Don't think that because prices are down next week that they'll be down in a year. They could go completely bonkers. And they likely will.



And the New York chapter of this book simply rules. Excellent read.

The peak oil hypothesis may be very real; at the very least, as the author notes, large deposits of easily accessible oil will become harder to find, concurrent with increasing demand from China, India and other parts of the (rapidly) developing world; the combination will clearly lead to higher prices of oil, and therefore gasoline. The format is a novel one: how would life change with each relatively sizeable incremental increase in the average price of fuel at the pump. I'm guessing that the book concept was approved in 1H 2008, and the drop in In the market price of oil (and gasoline) by year end made the release timing somewhat awkward; ah well, the market giveth and the market taketh away.



In the hands of a more objective and rigorous writer, this could have been a very useful book; even as it stands, it provides some interesting insights (or at least stimulates thinking). Unfortunately, there are a few flaws that made me regularly roll my eyes, and ultimately discount the book's value:



First, for the sake of dramatic impact, the author assumes that the price of gasoline will increase in a matter of months to his initial target range - he's found an equity analyst or university professor who says that gas will reach $10 in the next year or two; he ignores the dozens of others who would disagree (a recurring theme), and even that one probably wishes he could take back his mid-08 quote 6 months later. While oil (and gas) prices are set at the margin and therefore volatile, this is likely to be a years- or decades-long process.



Second, the cure for high prices, as the saying goes, is high prices. The author gives little credit to human ingenuity and willingness to change consumption patterns. He notes that diesel use will go up, and that electric car use will come into vogue, but discounts the impact of those (and numerous other) initiatives on the ability to continue to drive, i.e. substitution effects. If gas prices really do ratchet as high as $6 in the next couple of years, the vehicle fleet will shift fairly rapidly in composition. As the author notes, Ford already sells 60-70 mpg vehicles in Europe (as do other automakers), and the only thing keeping those away from our shores is market demand. People aren't stupid, they'll adjust. By the time gas reaches $20/gallon, if it ever does, many adjustments will be made without completely changing the American lifestyle. The author repeatedly says that people won't buy electric cars in any numbers at $25k and above. I'm guessing that he's a) an urban dweller, and b) not all that well paid as a scribe at Forbes, and therefore c) hasn't shopped for a car in a while - what does he think the average car costs today?



Similarly, US consumers can weather higher gas prices much more easily than the new consumers in India and China due to income. If prices rise as much as he expects, demand will drop considerably in those emerging markets. The Chinese and Indian economies have lived without cars for a long time; the growth in demand in those countries will flatten or reverse fairly quickly if the author's scenario(s) prove out, reducing the price (or at least the pace of price increases) to US and European consumers.



Third, the book is largely anecdotal rather than analytical. It makes it an easy and engaging read, but doesn't do much to make the author's case. Remind me again why WalMart will be eliminated at $14 (or was it $12) but not at $8 or $16? He had a number of points to make, and seemingly spread them among random chapters.



Finally, there's an overriding sense of self-righteous, vindictive contempt for the way Americans choose to live their lives today that comes through consistently (especially in the chapter on the "Death of WalMart"). The author believes we should all live in walkable, mixed use urban centers or main-street focused small towns; he yearns for an idyllic past that never existed, and which suburbanites and exurbanites left because they wanted to. I hate to throw out the overused cliche "urban elites", but he's pretty clearly a member, and he can barely disguise his glee that the suburbs and big box stores he despises will be eliminated in a cleansing fire of high gasoline prices. The standard suburban American lifestyle that he hates so much, along with the globalization that makes it possible, are likely to prove more resilient than the author thinks. Sorry, WalMart (and Costco) aren't going away. Deal with it.



In summary, if this really were an objective scenario review it would be much more valuable than it is. As it stands, it's an ideological polemic screed that gives more insight into the author's belief system than it does into possible future outcomes. Too bad, the idea had some potential.'

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Organizational Effectiveness - leadership development, organizational effectiveness

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The goal of this book and its companion 2-volume videotape is to encourage communication between employees and management. Read one way, the book addresses managers; turn it upside down, and it presents the employee's point of view. This clever format helps to illustrate the main point of the short volume: that employees and managers have a lot of common ground if they make the effort to improve their understanding and empathy of one another by seeing the other's point of view.The book raises important issues that occur between the two organizational groups, in a manner that is thought provoking, not finger-pointing. Prepared as a training manual, it may be most effective when used with groups interested in reducing polarization between management and employees. Walk Awhile In My Shoes: Gut Level, Real-World Messages Between Managers and Employees

"Walk Awhile In My Shoes" is chock-full of timeless insight for anyone who is or plans to be employed in his/her lifetime. The information reaches across color lines, gender, age, and job title...it is for everyone. Turn the book one way and read gut-level, real-world information from employees to managers, then flip it over to read the same information from the managers to the employees. After reading both sides you find that there is a very thin line between managers and employees and once each have walked a minute in the others shoes via straight forward messages in the book...it may prove easier to walk/work together more effectively, efficiently and harmoniously.



Of course it would be nice if every person in the organization would really read the book and have an open mind and heart to actually hear and absorb the information. I am going to recommend the book to my staff and also plan to cover various topics over time in my staff meetings and see what effect or impact it has in my area of the organization. Regardless of the impact on others, it impacted me and I highly recommend the book for personal improvement and hopefully group/team improvement.



The authors Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura have certainly produced a high impact tool meant to enhance any organization and they have compiled this information over an eighteen year time period. Each page is complimented with a noteworthy quote on the opposite page. For those that like relative quotes...this book is a must have for your office library or book shelf. The topics presented are: Perception, Evaluating Employee Performance, Selection and Promotion, Privileges of Management, Performance Problems, No Win Situations, Objective/Consistent/Fair, Personal Problems, Saying No, Joys of The Job, The Future, What I Ask of You, Change, Recognition, Participative Management, Resolving Disputes, Sharing Information, Respecting My Time, Loyalty and Job Security.



I took away a lot from this book that gave me a newfound perspective on my job as a supervisor and how to deal with employees. Of course as with all things...there are going to be people that are the exception to the rule... all things will not be able to fit nicely into this books' diagram of the real world information presented. There will always be some conundrum that pops up, but hopefully with more understanding (as stated in the book) we can meet in the middle and walk the rest of the way together after walking awhile in each others shoes.



Review by:

Pamela Jarmon-Wade

I use this in our weekly meetings to stay in focus with the two sided coin. You finally realize that when you are in Management, both sides have a strong opinion based on their experiences during their career. I pick this book up often to keep in touch! Great reading that you can bite off in chunks.

We are using this book for an upcoming management training meeting and are very excited about that. The books were sent in multiple shipments which was challenging but they were in packed nicely and eventually we got all the books we ordered. Thank you.

This book is a quick read, and hits some excellent points which both an employee and manager can benefit from. It is written half from the employee to a manager reminding them we are all human and should be treated fairly, while the other half of the book is written from the manager to employee reminding that managers are people too, and subject to the same feelings and mistakes just like everyone else. I would suggest this book for anyone in the field of business looking to bridge the gap between employees and managers.

The book is a great business perspective from managers to direct reports and vice versa. Books were purchased for my Sales Reps.



The shipping was less than desireable. The box was saturated (delivered by USPS)and one of the 9 books was water damaged. This could have been avoided if the books were wrapped in plastic. I would have pursued a replacement but I did not know who to contact at Amazon.com. - Organizational Effectiveness - Leadership Development'

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Battery Packs From Amazon - maximalpower

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This battery seems to be a Rayovac product to me. That's OK! Fit's the drill and charges in the charger as expected. The original battery lasted 10 years under light use. If these do as well I'll consider it a good investment. The Drill was industrial grade so I decided to replace 2 batteries for it. The sad part is that these days of throw-away products it would be cheaper to buy a new drill than 2 batteries. I gambled on the drill that I think will last. Good luck! Maximalpower Ryobi 14.4v 2000mAh Ni-Cd Replacement Battery for Ryobi 1400656 1400671 4400011 and more

I bought two of these to replace my worn out batteries. At first I was impressed BUT they didn't last very long at all and one quit taking a charge altogether. Now I can charge it up and set it on the bench for a couple of hours and the charge is gone. Not even using the drill.

Don't waste your money on the hype.

I purchased this battery pack for my Ryobi drill. Charged it fully and then went to use the drill. The output is definitely below the original battery pack that came with my drill. The drill slows down under a decent load, whereas in the past it did not do this. Would recommend avoiding buying this battery pack and going with a different brand instead. - Maximalpower'

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Cordless Drill - cordless, lithium

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I bought this as a gift for my Dad for Christmas. I already own (and love) its main competitor, Milwaukee's 12v driver so I decided to do a quick side-by-side comparison. In terms of look, size, and performance, the two tools are about as equal as can be. The Milwaukee did seem to drive the 3" screws slightly faster but it was a very small difference. Overall, the two were basically equal in everything except one factor - the mechanism for changing bits. On the Bosch, you pull the chuck straight out to release the bit, but you need to continue holding it out to insert the new bit (basically need two hands). On the Milwaukee, you pull out the chuck and it locks into the open position, then you insert the new bit and it locks into place (only need one hand to do a bit change). For this reason alone, I would rate the Milwaukee just ahead of the Bosch. In any case, I would be thrilled with either. Bosch PS20-2A 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver with 2 Batteries

As everyone else has noted, this is a really wonderful tool: light, powerful, and well balanced. This single tool now replaces BOTH my heavyweight DeWalt for big jobs, AND a nimble little Skil 2336-02 iXO 3.6-Volt for tight spaces. [The latter duo have gone to a vacation home.]



That said, the Bosch comes with an annoyingly cheesy cloth case, with an equally annoying Velcro strap inside to secure the driver. But most annoying of all is that it comes with essentially NO BITS.



I naturally looked for a companion set of Bosch bits and rapidly discovered from the valuable Amazon reviews [for which this review is karmic payback] that the quick-change chuck in the "Bosch CC2130 Clic-Change 27-Piece Drilling and Driving Set" DOES NOT FIT the PS20 series!



SOLUTION: For one third the price of the Bosch set, I eventually found the Titan 16048 Quick-Disconnect 48 Piece Drilling and Driving Set in Plastic Case which DOES fit and works very well, and also has about double the number of bits as the Bosch set. I now leave the Titan quick-change chuck permanently installed, and can then pop bits in and out with one hand.



This Titan set really is the perfect (and remarkably cheap) companion to the PS20-2A.

Just bought the 12v drill/driver made by Bosch. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't buy it from Amazon because I found it cheaper on E... Only reason is I'm such a tightwad I make every penny squeek when I'm buying tools. That's why I don't buy cheap tools and this certainly ain't cheap.



I've been using it since I got it and it's a dream tool. I drill with #55 size bits and all my other drills were so heavy I'd break a bit every 7th or 8th hole. Still on the same bit since I switched to the PS20-2A.



The batteries, (you get 2 with the PS20-2A), charge in about 30 minutes and seem to last forever. I tried wearing one down in the first 3 hours of intermittent drilling and couldn't do it.



The only thing I'd comment negatively about is that stupid little super-brite LED they put on the drill. I guess it's supposed to illuminate the drill tip at the point of contact but it only lights up the area below the actual area you need lighted. I sent a note to Bosch about this flaw so maybe they'll fix it. Well, I can dream can't I?



Finally, If you need a great little Drill/driver that'll become a star of your toolbox or belt this is the one. I don't gush unless it's very special but this tool is super special. Best Regards

I purchased this product to replace a compact B&D compact drill driver. The manufacturer's literature says this will drive 100 3 inch screws on one battery so since I was in the process of building a deck, I decided to put this claim to the test. Before attempting to drive a 2 3/4" deck screw, I pre-drilled through the deck board and into the joist. After attempting to drive one screw at the highest torque setting, I put this tool away. It was very ineffective for this purpose, unable to drive the screw all the way. For comparison, I used an old DeWalt 12v driver, which did drive the deck screw all the way. At another point, while replacing damaged drywall, I again tried to use the Bosch. While somewhat more effective, it still labored to drive the screw into the stud, but did manage to sink the head. It appears that the best use for the Bosch is for light duty in close quarters where a full size drill would be unable to reach. Given the price of $99, it would appear there are better options out there. Anyone looking to buy this as their primary drill should look elsewhere.

Bosh advertises this as a driver and that's how I primarily use it, but I have used it as a drill as well.

Since this is a cordless driver, it is relatively slow in the RPM department, I think it maxes out at 300RPM but the control you have over the speed is very, very fine. At the slightest trigger pull the front light comes on, a little more and the chuck creeps around, maybe 5 RPM. Pull the trigger fully and the motor spins up almost instantly to full speed.

But the neat part is the brake... from any speed, let go of the trigger completely and the chuck comes to a complete stop, so quickly that there is a recoil from full speed. When you're driving a screw and the clutch slips, and you release the trigger, the chuck just stops spinning, no extra force is put in to the screw.

I've used this driver for several years as my daily driver while working on computers. I've also used it for automotive and house work as well as tear-down and rebuilding of horse stalls.

Don't let the small size of the driver fool you, this a primary tool! At the lower clutch settings you can safely drive metal screws in to plastic, or plastic screws in to anything. At the MAX setting, you can drive long screws in to hardwood.

Will other drivers out-drive it? Yes. But this tool comes with two batteries, they charge faster than you can drain them and you can literally use it all day without more than a few seconds downtime per battery change every few hours.

Is it tough? My driver has been in the heat, cold, damp, dust and dropped I can't tell you how many times and it still works like new.

I do wish the LED was angled a little bit toward the chuck, in the straight-ahead alignment it has the light falls just below the work point.



If you want an electric driver and part time drill, this should be at the top of your list. If you want a high-speed drill, look elsewhere this isn't your tool. I hope mine doesn't break any time soon, but when it does I'll replace it with another PS20. - Lithium - Cordless Screwdriver - Cordless - Cordless Drill'

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Rotary Tool Accessories - rotary tool accessories, dremel

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The Dremel lawnmower blade sharpener works pretty good. But only as a midseason blade sharpener. Be careful sparks fly all over the place with this tool. If your blades are really dull take them to the pros but at midseason this tool will help put the edge back on a mild dull blade. Buy extra 932 grinding stones because you'll go thu them quick. Dremel 675 Lawn Mower and Garden Tool Sharpener Attachment

I got one of these with my dremel tool. It works, but I really think a dremel tool is underpowered for sharpening applications. I spent some time trying to sharpen my shovel with it and finally gave up and grabbed a file and had it finished and a second shovel in less time and with far less noise. Let's face it, neither shovel or lawnmower blades need to be as accurately sharpened as a knife and a file will work handily, cost the same and last longer.

I'm sorry to see the other poor reviews. I have had this for years, and it's worked great every time. I have a push mower (Toro Super Recycler), single blade. The blade fits snugly into the plastic guide, and it sharpens quite well. No complaints. It saves me a lot of time, being able to sharpen myself, any time of season, as opposed to manually sharpening with a file, or taking somewhere to have it done.

Nice product, but you have to have the dremel with the male threads to attach the adaptor. Simple to use and quite effective. Set the dremel to 3/4 spee and you will need to make several passes especially if the blades are really dull (like mine were). Took me about 20 minutes to do all three.

If you have a Dremel tool and any kind of metal tools with an edge then you need this. I was skeptical, but found it works really well. It takes a little while to get used to so I recommend to learn on the less important tools like a shovel you rarely use or don't care if you knick it.



The grinding stone can bur into you edge if you aren't careful. And it's kind of hard to turn around the angles of a blade. But this sucker will sharpen every tool you have from the lawnmower blade to the axe to the sling blade (some people call it a keiser blade).

I got this with my Dremel XPR and I was actually looking forward to trying it out, as we have an old hatchet that despretly needs sharpening. I put it on and I went to get the hatchet, and the little slot that the blade goes in was just a little bit too thin. So I finally got it in and I turn on the tool and in a shower of sparks it starts working, but I couldn't get it to move, so now I had a gigantic dent in it, I eventually got the hatchet sharpened without the attachment. and much better, too. I haven't tried it on the lawn mower yet, though. But it doesn't work well on anything besides shovels for me.

i have the dremel lawnmower sharpening tool 675 and i can sharpen my lawnmower blades without having to remove them by simply jacking up the lawnmower high enough to get the tool under it so it fits good on the blade and i can sharpen the blade without taking it off. this saves a lot of time. just remeber to count how many strokes you take on one side of the blade and then repeat the same amount of strokes on the other side. this way you keep the blade in perfect balance. make sure to lower the blade all the way down. this makes it a lot easier before sharpening the blade

It is a little difficult to explain, but this did not fit my mower blade. I guess it would give the correct angle on an axe or another 'flat' item. I have a toro mower and the blade has a curve in the horizontal and the black plastic guard does not give a consistent angle when I move it down the length of the edge. I can still use it by taking the guard off, but then it is just a grinding wheel.

I have hand sharpened with a file and used the other type sharpener that fits in an electric drill, both were quite time and energy consuming and less than pleasing. This rotary tool attachment really works! It is quick and easy and gives a sharp edge in a surprisingly short time. I am well pleased with this product. Dremel 675 Lawn Mower and Garden Tool Sharpener Attachment - Dremel - Rotary Tool Accessories - Sharpener'

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Middle Eastern Dance History - middle eastern dance history, bellydance history

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Step into a women's world of black abayas, large gatherings of women and children chatting, drinking tea, eating Arabic sweets-and dancing. "Excitement always reached its peak when one of the women got up to turn on the music, tie a scarf around her hips, and slowly sway into another world, dancing for us. All attention focused on her, tension grew in the bodies of the other women. They stood up, their eyes filling with an old, so far forgotten knowledge as they began to spur on the dancer-'How beautiful is the shape of her eyes, blessed be Allah!' 'Hold your head high, proud Fatima!' 'Look how softly her hips are circling!' The onlookers clapped in rhythm and trilled shrilly, conveying their enthusiasm...."Written by a woman raised in the Middle Eastern culture of Baghdad, the book begins with Rosina's stories of how her grandmother introduced her to dance as a young girl, where dance pervaded their lives. She gives a fascinating multi-cultural history of women's dancing, advocates attaining awareness through dancing (doing any movement), and then describes each movement with its benefits, from head to toe. "The art of expressing moods, states of mind, and experiences through dancing is based on movements and shapes that are meant to strengthen the body, keep it flexible, and prepare the dancer for life."The content is excellent and the writing style is engaging. There are black-and-white photos throughout. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing

As a veteran belly dancer (since 1981) and a teacher of the dance, I had mixed feelings about this book.The opening section, consisting of anecdotes about the author's childhood, was fascinating to read. Each anecdote was told to present a lesson.The second section, on the history of women's dance, was light in content. It was okay, but anyone who wants to know about the history of the dance won't find much here.The third and fourth sections, suggesting how to use belly dance movements for personal growth, healing, and spiritual fulfillment, are the real meat of this book. The author provided new ways of looking at familiar movements. An experienced dancer who is looking for new dimensions to the dance will probably enjoy this book very much, as I did. The exercises provide a source of creative inspiration as well as contributing to an overall feeling of well being.However, a beginner who is hoping to find a book that will teach her how to become a belly dance performer will find this book disappointing. While some of the exercises are based on moves that would be used in a performance, others are not. There is no information about what kind of music to use, and no suggestion of how to combine moves into a show. The biggest negative to this book is that it doesn't differentiate between the author's ideas about historical fact and how various moves might be used in ritual. For example, when describing "The Veil Dance", the author says "A woman dances the knowledge of the new living creature that can be born from her. She dances the eternal return of life; even without children, she dances this awareness of life that comes to her from the rhythms inside. She dances Eros beyond the loving embrace; she dances the place in-between, the time between birth and death that is called life." Interesting. The historical fact is that the modern Egyptian practice of beginning one's raqs sharqi performance holding a flowing piece of fabric (ie, veil) arose when a Russian dance coach named Ivanova instructed Samia Gamal to enter with a piece of fabric as a way of improving her arm carriage. The author's narrative can provide fertile inspiration for a dancer seeking new sources of creative inspiration for her performance, so it's legitimate to put these ideas out there. But I wish she would have acknowledged them to be her own interpretation rather than letting the reader believe she's stating historical fact.I actually enjoyed the book very much, but I gave it only 3 stars because of my concern it will mislead readers about the history and ethnic context of the dance.

This book has its good points and its bad points.The firstsection (stories from the author's childhood) is lovely. I only wish it were longer.The second (the "history" of women's dancing) was a weakly-argued and poorly-supported rant. And while I am inclined to agree with many of her conclusions due to my own opinions and biases, the author didn't make much of a case on her own. Most of what she presents as fact is really conjecture.The third section attempts to introduce middle eastern dance movements, but the descriptions are not specific enough to follow unless you already know the move. Pictures would have helped; the book has several, but they don't illustrate the moves (with the exeption of the hand posture photo, which was excellent). Not that you can learn any dance form from a book, but this one is unusually unhelpful. This section isn't entirely useless, though. If you're already enrolled in a class, it can give you another perspective on the movements you're learning. I've always found it helpful to have them explained another way. The fourth section is a description of some dance occasions (birth, weddings, etc.) and the dances that accompany them. However, the descriptions are short and vague, and by this point in the book, I don't quite trust the author anymore, so I'm wary of the authenticity of what she has to say.I seemed to have bashed this book, but it has its place. The stories in the first section were certainly worth reading. And while it didn't actually teach me anything, this book helped me to add a sort of meaning to my dancing; it gave me a focus and attitude that helped transform what I was doing from just exercising to actually dancing. And that is a valuable and important thing. However, the language is VERY New-Agey. I've hugged my share of trees, but it got to me after a while. If you don't have a good tolerance for that kind of thing, skip this book or only read one section at a time ... END - Raks Sharki - Bellydance History - Rosina-fawzia B Al-rawi - Middle Eastern Dance History'

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Yoga Strap - yoga strap, yoga towel

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I decided to get this package because it seemed like a great deal and after I got my husband the yoga mat from this company I thought they would have other great products. They do! The strap is really great and the mat wash smells so nice. My husband uses the rosin bag & towel so I can't talk about those but I do enjoy this company and their customer service is top notch. Aurorae Slip Free, Wash and Stretch Value Package (Slip Free Rosin Bag, Sport Sweat Towel,Organic Mat Wash and 8-Foot Yoga Strap)

I got this set for my husband, an avid yoga practitioner, and it's a nice accompaniment to his yoga routine. While he already has a mat, he never had used a rosin bag, and his mat was certainly in need of a cleaning, so the Mat Wash came in handy. The towel is soft and absorbent, and the strap is good too.

I already have the Aurorae mat and absolutely LOVE it!!! I purchased this product to accompany the mat and when I received the package there was a problem with the shipping and the product was slightly damaged. In the package it comes with a business card from the CEO of the company with an email address. I sent an email explaining the problem with shipping and I received a response and apology in less than 10 hours with his personal promise of sending a new package. So very impressed with the promptness in his reply and their eagerness to make the situation right. Luckily the rosin was not damaged so I was able to use it last night and it is AMAZING! Can't wait to use the wash it smells so refreshing. If you have a yoga mat you definitely need this package.

I BOUGHT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS MAT AND LOVE IT, BUT I ALSO RECEIVED THE SLIP FREE , WASH AND STRETCH PACKAGE.

OUTSTANDING VALUE AT 29.95 AND ALL THE PRODUCTS ARE AWESOME. THE ROSIN WORKS LIKE A DREAM AND HELPS STOP ANY SLIPPING. WORKS GREAT WITH THE TOWEL. THE MAT WASH IS ALL NATURAL AND SMELLS SO INCREDIBLE. STRAP IS 8 FT AND EXCELLENT QUALITY. EVERYTHING MATCHES AND LOOKS SO NICE.

WILL BE BUYING A FEW MORE OF THESE PACKAGE FOR CHRISTMAS FOR GIFTS.

I have been using an Aurorae mat for several months. It has served me well. When the mat became "used" I started to use the mat wash. The mat immediately returned to like new ("refreshed") condition. The towel and strap are very high quality. I have yet to use the rosen bag, but assume it will be helpful when there are problems with slippage, I just haven't seemed to need this assistance so far. I highly recommend, without reservation, the service and quality for these products.

I received my kit in the mail today, just in time for my yoga class. I have a lot of "pitta" in me, which means that I sweat a LOT during yoga. Sliding on my mat during down dog is no fun; in fact, my hands get so sweaty that even grasping my hands or toes becomes impossible. I used the Aurorae Slip-Free Rosin bag today and it was a miracle! While I still had a yoga hand towel, I didn't have to keep wetting it in order to stop sliding. This made my practice so much more enjoyable. What a great product!



To top it off, I got a thank-you email from the CEO that included various tips for using the products. A very nice touch! I'd recommend this product to anyone who has issues with sliding during yoga!

I'm sold on this package of yoga helpers -the rosin in particular makes downward dog a no slip experience - great value for the money, super good company to deal with customer service wise, quickly shipped. Recommended!

This is my second purchase of Aurorae Yoga products. I am delighted at the quality of the products. The mat wash smells great and the rosin bag really keeps me from slipping. I live in Missouri and the humidity has been outrageous here lately. The rosin bag really does the trick during my practice.



I 100% recommend this package.



Ann

This is really an excellent product. The slip free rosin has changed my whole yoga practice and enabled me to improve and avoid slipping. That mixed with easy cleaning solution makes this a really great package. I highly recommend this to anyone who is either just beginning or experienced in yoga - Yoga Strap - Yoga Towel - Yoga Mats - Yoga Accessories'

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