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Cowboy doll Woody is Andy's favorite toy, and as part of that comes the privilege of being the leader of all the other toys. His world is suddenly turned upside down when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday. Suddenly, Woody finds himself in danger of being replaced as Andy and all the toys flock to Buzz. Worse yet, Buzz doesn't know he's a toy. He thinks he's the real Buzz Lightyear. But when the two toys get lost a couple days before Andy moves, they'll have to work together to get home. Can Woody work with Buzz when they don't have the same goal?



I can't believe it's been ten years since this movie came out. It's had an immeasurable impact on the animation field and movies in general. At the same time, its flaws are evident. The humans look as plastic as the toys, and the fur on the dog is laughable. Computers have come a long way in ten years.



Whether this movie was any good or not, it would have been an important milestone. Fortunately, it succeeds on an entertainment level as well. The story is masterfully told revealing plot points and character equally. The movie is extremely funny as well; with lots of jokes for the adults in the audience and some classic lines I quote all the time. Plus it introduces us to a Pixar staple, the climax that will not quit.



Pixar has released great DVD's from the start, and this two-disc set is no different. The movie is transferred directly from the digital files, so the picture is perfect. Sound is wonderful in two separate 5.1 surround tracks. Many of these extras are from the Ultimate Toy Box release of a few years ago, and they are well worth having. The commentary is very informative. The deleted scenes are interesting, but it's obvious why they were deleted. The new features looking back at the movie from ten years later are wonderful as well.



This is a ground breaking movie that is just as much fun to watch as it is historic. I hadn't watched it in quite some time and was reminded just how fun it is. I've got to watch it more often. Toy Story

"Toy Story", the landmark movie that ushered animation into the computer age, is still a bona fide family classic- and funny as all get-out to boot. This superb package brings it all back, both the movie itself and an Al's Toy Barn full of bonuses.

First things first- the movie looks and sounds fantastic!

I don't have one of those flashy home-theater outfits, but this digital print shows off some great color, with the various toy characters in pristine, bright glory. Sound master Gary Rydstrom upgraded the soundtrack to the point where you can hear the click of the tiny toy soldiers. Best of all, you don't need a 50-inch screen or ultra-Dolby amp to enjoy this newer-than-new view.

The movie, of course, introduced a new, innovative animation outfit called Pixar to the world- and what a job they did on this first feature effort! Woody and Buzz Lightyear, of course, are icons to kids of all ages, but all the other members of the "Andy's Room" community were great- and funny. Mr. Potato Head (voiced by Don Rickles), Rex the dinosaur (Wallace Shawn) and even the little green Army sergeant (war-movie vet R. Lee Ermey) are just a few of these classic inanimate objects turned flesh-and-blood- well, almost- characters.

The storyline- a combination of buddy comedy, toy fair, sci-fi flick and domestic sitcom (to name a few elements) is, in its own way, as multi-layered and satisfying as the most mature adult dramas. From the moment all the toys come to life when Andy's away to a great exit line when the toys learn about his latest surprise gift, you're drawn in to this unusual world that's as striking now as it must have been a decade ago.

Disc 1 has both the movie and a new feature with both the Pixar team and a few others (Chris "Robots" Wedge, George Lucas, Roy Disney) offering their views on what "Toy Story" did to transform the entire animation genre. It's Disc 2, however, that has the goods- a couple of dozen features, clips and art galleries that literally break down the walls and give both the kid/family core crowd and the animation scholar a remarkable look at how much effort goes into this sort of film. The fact that Pixar and the CGI form themselves were in their infancy at the time only enhances just what great craftsmen these people are.

After an entertaining coffee-talk session involving Pixar's "four horsemen"- the core writer/artist/director/geeks who helmed every future project up to "The Incredibles"- we can check out everything from sequence development, sketch to full-on; galleries on characters like Woody and Buzz set to music; a multi-language sequence (from Finnish to Chinese to Turkish!); even Randy Newman's original piano-and-voice (and he's a fantastic piano player!) demo score. Nothing- I say, nothing- is out of place.

"Toy Story" is simple enough to be an ideal choice for a "child's first movie" yet sophisticated enough to give the serious cineaste plenty to study. It's as witty as the best literate comedies and as warm as an old-style family saga. It proved that top-drawer stars could also be great voice actors, and it entered a child's world with a fresh, not-so-"kiddie" angle. It balanced off sweet little Andy with mad-scientist Sid (his mutant monster-movie toy creations are a show in themselves)

in a great show of kids with personality. And it established Pixar as the flagship of animated features- again, it's incredible that this was their first!

"Toy Story", the super-deluxe edition, is a must for any animation buff, family with kids, or just about anyone who loves movies. I'm already on line for the upcoming (New Year's) "Toy Story 2" set, which will give its equally-great sequel (dare I say the "Godfather" and "Godfather II" of animation?) the format it deserves. With any luck, "Toy Story" will be one of the best-loved movies ever, to infinity...and beyond!'

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Woodworking Joinery - featherboards, kreg

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I bought this for two reasons. One to save space and two to have a larger router table. I've been very happy with this purchase. The table is stable and large enough for big jobs. I have since adapted a "Jessem" router lift which makes this all the more functional.

Well worth the price. MLCS 2394 Extension Router Table Top & Fence with Universal Router Plate - Pocket-hole Jigs - Kreg - Router - Featherboards'

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The Well Trained Mind - classical homeschool, well-trained mind

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I've read this book twice. The older copy from my library was so helpful that I purchased the newer one and read it too. I just spent some time reading the 1-star reviews of it and find myself thinking, "These people just don't get it." First of all, you shouldn't take on anyone's homeschool philosophy whole-heartedly without researching and evaluating yourself and your kids. Also, the book does not claim to be Christian. In fact, the chapter on Bible specifically mentions that they are not going to presume to make your religious/faith-based-education choices for you.



Most importantly though, this is a how-to on classical education. The opening chapters say that yes, it's strenuous, yes, it's language oriented. It will be focused on reading, writing, and discussion. And I fail to see how anyone could say you get a shell of an education when the same topics are covered three times with increasing thought given each time. The whole purpose is to introduce ideas and then analyze them.



The authors introduce these ideas and expect you to analyze them too.



Use your own thinking here. If you want to introduce faith AND analytical thought, just teach your children about God's truth AND greek philosophy. We have been studying Egyptian gods this week with my first grader, and she completely understands that there were people with a different way of thinking and that they did not know and worship the one true God. (In fact, of her own thinking, she reasoned that they would not live again in heaven and was very sad. I wouldn't have intentionally addressed that at a young age.) Teaching the ways of other cultures does not water-down faith and it doesn't worship the Greeks, as some critics said.



Also, if the time schedules don't work for your family, don't sweat it! You can teach this method without following the authors advice to the letter! Every home school is different and completely customizable. That's the great thing about it.



I love the ideas behind this book of exploring a topic at early ages, analyzing it at the analytical age, and expressing your own genuine thought at the creative age. So different from my own education where we were not encouraged to have analytical thought until upper level high school.



It's definitely worth a read. But not a hard-and-fast rule for everyone. The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Third Edition)

If you want to school your child to be an intelligent and more than competent member of society this is the way to do it. The best thing about this kind of education? No text books! The child learns out of books which have been written for the sake of learning facts and have not been polluted with some sort of agenda. The child gets a pure education the way children are designed to learn. Then when they are older they learn how to think and react logically. It's painful how children grow up and never learn how to think critically. We chose this curriculum because there are lists of resources starting from preschool aged kids all the way to 12th grade. These lists are key, however, you should not stick to them completely but use your creativity and find other books or projects that might be better. For example, I did not like their suggestion for grammar stage anatomy. The Kingfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia. In fact, I find that I don't care for the Kingfisher series of encyclopedia's very much at all. There is a serious lack of content in them. I chose the First Human Body Encyclopedia by DK instead. But here is the beauty, you really don't even need the kids encyclopedia. There are enough resources out there that allow you to make you're own curriculum for anatomy fun. Get books like "Uncover the Human Body" by Luann Columbo, "My Body" by PATTY CARRATELLO, "Head to Toe Science" by Jim Wiese, and since kids love visuals get an adult illustrated anatomy book like "Human Body" by Martyn Page, being careful with the reproductive pictures of course. The adult anatomy book then can be used in grades 5 and 9 to give the student a more in depth study of anatomy and you save money by not getting a kids encyclopedia. This is assuming that your kids aren't squeamish. My 7 year old is just fascinated with whats inside his body and finds the adult anatomy books much more interesting than the children's books which tend to give dumbed-down information under the guise of "age appropriate material". Kids are capable of understanding so much more than we give them credit for. Mine surprise me on a daily basis. The down side of The Well Trained Mind? It takes time to research your books...lots of time! Time to: find books at your library, place holds and wait for them, choose the best ones, look through them once you get them and teach out of them. It's worth it when you see just how much better your kids understand the subject and you'll swoon when your child repeats facts to his friends from some random lesson a few weeks ago. Its worth it if you are prepared to spend the time making it successful. The program is designed to help your child get a world class education, but it's up to give it to your kids.

I am a young parent based in Lagos, Nigeria. While I have been bothered with the quality of education in my own immediate enviroment, I have always been thinking about how my kids education will be world class and alas I found TWMT on Amazon, bought and read it and eversince then I have been consulting it and I've even recommended it to friends.

TWMT teaches you how to educate your child from age zero upto adulthood and the good thing is that the methodology is borderless and alot of the recommended literature readings in the book are readily available,even in Lagos for as low as $1.

For me and my family this book as given us key information about education:

1. Rote learning is better and easier done between ages 0 to 10; 2.Short 15-45 minutes consistent classes on daily/weekly basis of any subject is enough to master a subject over a period of 12 years; 3. It intorduced the concept of developing a reader in a child by recommending a jewel of a book "The Read Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease; 4. The Authors' keep a very active online forum based on TWMT [...];5. The Authors' are very responsive to your challenges even for someone like me in Lagos, Nigeria,they still responded to my family's educational challenge by profering a solution that actually worked after i mailed them on an observation.

Lastly, for those that think the system is rigid, please you don't need to follow the methodology to detail, kindly adapt to your family's challenges. And if you think it's too Language/History focused then you can get curriculum books by "Bernard Nebel" as they are science focused to use along with this "Lost but found Treasure of a book".

Good enough this book is Eurocentric but then you can replace it with titles that are from your own geographical location and faith inclination i.e. I have a list of classic Islamic books to use with my kids based on the prestine Islam for religious studies and I also keep a list of African Writers' Series by Heinemann to use for my kids at the appropriate time along with some of the other classic books recommended in TWMT. May be your bilingua interest isn't Greek, Latin... like in my case then make do with your interest(s) i.e. Arabic and Yoruba Languages in my family's case.

CAVEAT: TWTM will not make your kids people of letters alone, as Bob, Jessie's first child is a software architect, Susan is a Prof. of Literature & Writing and the 3rd child is a Police officer.

So if you want a qualitative and quantitative education for your kids then get this "Treasure of a book". - Classical Homeschool - Susan Wise Bauer - Homeschooling - Well-trained Mind'

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Great Customer Service - fine writing instruments, waterman

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I bought this pen thinking it would be a good everyday pen. Actually, its a great everyday pen. It writes smoothly without skips, drip or slips; good value for money.



On the negative side, its a bit small for my hand but not too small. Refilling the converter is easy but if you don't want to use the converter, you must use Waterman's cartridges; a bit longer and smaller diameter than the standard international cartridge.



So there you have it, a good quality everyday pen. Waterman Phileas Solid Black Medium Point Fountain Pen - 19704W3

Even as a child I knew the name Waterman for fine pens. At that time, of course, Waterman pens ran hundreds of dollars, and they were a pipe dream. This one, by contrast, is usually under $50 and, while the price is much lower than the top class Waterman pens, (Phileas is their "budget" line) the quality is excellent, and you are getting a lot of pen for this money. Also, despite this being under $100, this pen is made in France, not mainland China like so many other fountain pens these days. This pen is reliable; it is easy to clean, even after months of sitting there, and it writes smoothly. What else can you ask for? Only some of the Italian pens can match this at a lower price, and those are usually pretty hard to find.

I'll start from the middle, and then work my way out. The "innards" of this fountain pen are outstanding. In terms of ink delivery and smoothness of writing, this pen is an all-star.



There are a few little but annoying problems with the Waterman Phileas, however. First of all, the nib that is supplied with the pen, a "medium" nib, writes too thickly for my taste. And replacement nibs are expensive. Second, I find the body of the pen a bit too narrow. (I am a medium-sized adult male with a medium-sized hand, so maybe this wouldn't be an issue for you.) Third, the body of the pen is plastic, and so it feels cheap, and starts looking cheap and plasticky after a few months of use. The cap is plastic, too. (Most high-end, traditional fountain pen bodies are made of metal.)



So, in sum, the actual writing ability of this fountain pen is excellent. In other areas, however, I feel this pen leaves a bit to be desired.

I ordered and received my Phileas pen, and at first could not find the cartridge or the converter, so I looked under where the pen was and voilà! When I tried writing with it, the nib was a bit broader than I had expected. I had forgotten to look at my old pens, and noticed later that they are fine nib. However, I hope to get used to my new pen. It is my first Waterman.



One more thing: the converter has very little space for ink. The manufacturers might want to replace it with one with more ink capacity.



Something else that might influence the performance of a fountain pen is whether or not the ink is fresh. Today I bought a bottle of ink locally (I didn't want it to spill in the mail) and I won't say the brand. It wrote much better. I think the new ink had something to do with that. It wasn't Waterman's ink, so there goes the theory "use the same brand of pen and ink".



After several weeks, I got used to the Phileas fountain pen, medium nib. It's a question of not pushing (I've been using a ballpoint too long) the pen but letting it glide over the paper. Now I just love writing with it. I still prefer a fine nib, however. It's a pity Amazon doesn't have the Phileas with a fine nib, it's such a comfortable pen.



Feb. 8, 2010 -- I bought this pen for much less than its current price -- unless the new price is a mistake and it comes down again in a week or so.

The seller sent me a returned/repackaged unit that looked like it has been passed around much like the maligned holiday fruit cake.

The pen body was chipped at the barrel threads, and the box looked manhandled. The "medium" nib wrote like a frayed felt tipped pen, and the light weight gave it the feel of disposable pen.

Waterman must make good pens, but this model doesn't deserve the moniker.

I promptly retuned mine.

I love my black Waterman Phileas. It writes beautifully and feels well balanced in my hand. I am (it pains me to admit) careless of my possessions - this pen has been dropped, shaken and occasionally stepped on. I carry it with me everywhere in my bag or pocket. The barrel and cap are scuffed, but still look pretty good after several years of hard use - no chips or cracks, and the gold is still shiny. It has *never* leaked. The cartridges are a snap to change, and once the new ink is flowing it never skips or blotches, even on cheap paper. My Phileas has a medium nib, which is rather bold. I also like to use a fine nib Phileas pen at times - my writing seems neater - but the medium is my "workhorse" pen.

I adore this pen so much I just bought a second one. I wanted to add this review only to say that a while ago I allowed my current pen to dry out. Completely my fault and I thought I had done irreparable damage. I called the Waterman 1-800 number and the young man told me to soak the nib in warm water for a few hours and refill the pen. I did so and it worked like a charm. The customer service was marvelous, quick, helpful and free of charge. I love the pen. No surprise there. But I am also very smitten by their customer service. That's rare. - Waterman - Fine Writing Instruments - Phileas - Fountain Pens'

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Photography Instruction - digital photography, creative photography

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I have owned many photography books over the years and Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Photography Field Guide" will be the book I pack with me from here on out.



The book is organized into the 11 chapters detailed below and each chapter is organized into smaller sections which help you seek out the specific topics you want to review.



1) A Few Digital Basics - Chapter topics range from file format and shooting in RAW to a gem of a section on white balance that explained better in 2 pages how this setting can really improve my photos than anything else I have come across in the past.



2) Exposure - Topics in this chapter include exposure explanations, the photographic triangle, creative exposures, and more. Bryan is a master at de-mystifying exposure and you will improve your photography with this chapter.



3) Aperture - This chapter does much more than just explain the effects of proper aperture settings, Bryan teaches you how aperture helps you tell the story you intend to with the photo.



4) Shutter Speed & ISO - This chapter offered one of the best explanations of how ISO effects your photos I have found since being introduced to digital photography and I find the section on "motion in low light" to be very good. Bryan also explained the relationship between apeture and shutter speeds in an easy to understand and apply in the field format.



5) Learning To See - This chapter covers a lot of ground on lenses and selecting the right lens for the right shot. Advice sections such as "shooting up" and "looking down" are helpful if you are looking for new ways to shoot but the photos included throughout the book are the best way to get new ideas for framing your shots.



6) Designing A Striking Image - This chapter is the largest in the book and covers more than I can go into. Suffice it to say that this chapter is all about composition, choosing your subject, getting creative, etc. These kinds of chapters have always been inspiring to me because the photos are amazing and Bryan does not let you down here. If you aren't motivated to get up and grab your camera after reading these sections you should probably put it down for good.



7) The Importance Of Light - This chapter covers a lot of ground from the best light, to low light, to backlight, etc. I found the material on exposure settings for various light conditions helpful and I was surprised that HDR exposure was covered in the detail it was...though not enough to start shooting HDR in my opinion. It seems as though you would still want to buy an HDR book to get into that in earnest.



8) Close-Up Photography - This chapter is a pretty good introduction to macro and it did answer many questions I have had. I have been flirting with getting more into macro and this chapter has helped me get just a little bit closer to making the investment.



9) Photographing People - This chapter is really about being a more professional, courteous photographer when people are the subject. This is the smallest chapter at just 7 pages and Bryan uses most of them to play armchair psychologist at getting people to like you taking their picture so you can get the best photos possible.



10) Unconventional Techniques - This chapter covers various "tricks of the trade" such as "making rain" or unusual ways to mount your camera and it will only really be useful on a lazy weekend day when you can't find anything else to do or photgraph. Fun info here but basically a bonus chapter.



11) Useful Tools - Here is the chapter that every photo book has and it basically feeds the gear addiction...tripods, filters, and more...



It is impossible to get into all of the details that you will find in this book, and at 400 pages you will not be short of info to learn from and grow as a photographer.



A couple other comments about the book itself...it is very high quality with good, heavy, high gloss paper that make the photos really pop of the pages. The book is very well built too and I can see that it will last for many years to come being lugged around in my camera bag and on trips. Also, this has to be the most compact and small 400 page book I have ever seen which is great because I do want to carry it with me when I go.



And the photos...they are simply spectacular. I have found myself just flipping through the pages to look at the photos and that can be just as instructive as the text in my opinion. Bryan has selected excellent examples to demonstrate his topics/lessons and all of the photo captions have detail about the photo's exposure settings which I like because it helps reinforce the lessons being taught.



I do not think anyone will be disappointed with this book and unless you are a seasoned pro already you will learn and grow as a photographer when you read and re-read this book's thorough chapters. Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

As the title indicates, this is a great book covering a range of topics on photography. If you haven't read any of Peterson's books, this is 5 stars. However, if you have read his other books - particularly Understanding Exposure, Understanding Shutter Speed, chapters of this book are almost identical, though not as deep, as those books, and you'll probably be a little disappointed if you were looking for new material. Same pictures, examples, and information - which is why I am only giving this 4 stars. It really should be a "compilation of/best of" Peterson's photo books.



It is intended as a "field guide" and if you want something to carry around, this does cover most of the important topics and techniques - though it isn't exactly pocket-sized.

This is a fine book. But before you plunk your money down, be aware of a few caveats.



First, the book is written by an experienced professional photographer for people who have digital SLR cameras. The author strongly emphasizes manual controls, interchangeable lenses, etc. My advanced digital compact camera doesn't have an f22 or even an f16 aperture setting, nor a depth of field preview button, nor a variety of lenses and filters.



Second, if your camera - whatever kind it is - doesn't have full manual controls (aperture, shutter speed, iso setting) much of the information won't apply to you. The book cover touts how to shoot "with any camera." But there are very few references to point-and-shoot cameras - even today's sophisticated models and much of the technical data and camera settings just don't translate.



Second, the author speaks exclusively to outdoor photography using existing light. If you want help for any inside photos of children's birthday parties, family dinners, or the kids basketball games, you won't find it here. And there is precious little reference to use of flash in any setting. Some advice even works against indoor photography - like the advice to set your white balance to "cloudy" and leave it there. Try that inside and everything turns out red.



Having voiced those concerns, this is still a wonderful book. The concepts and ideas do indeed apply to all photography and any type of camera. They just need some translation for less sophisticated equipment. Peterson is obviously a superb photograper with a passion for his craft honed over many years. He is also an engaging writer with a personal and easy style which makes the reading a pleasure.



The book itself is about the size of an 8 x 10 photo, thus reasonably portable, and very well made. The binding is very solid, the paper is heavy and glossy, and the wealth of color photos inside is superb. I don't mean to overemphasize the caveats above. This is a very sound, well-written, and readable book containing a lifetime of wonderful information. Just be aware of what you're getting. - Photography Book - Creative Photography - Photography - Digital Photography'

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Lithium-ion - cordless, drill

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This thing is a beast. Maybe I feel this way because I'm coming off a recently blown up Crapsman 18v drill that was sub par. However, I do have experience with the Panasonic 15.6v drill that has been arguably the best drill out there. I would easily put this up against the Panasonic anytime. Sure the Milwaukee is brand new and the Panasonic has been around for years so we'll see what the China-made Milwaukee will do long term. That said, it's lighter, shorter and more powerful than the Panasonic. Not by much, but it is. Even the charge time of the battery is quicker! I've always been a fan of Milwaukee's cases so there's another bonus over the Pany.

The previous reviewer complained about the placement of the forward/reverse switch but I don't agree. In my opinion, it's located just fine and very similarly to other cordless drills I've used (Craftsman, Panasonic and Porter Cable). If you're a homeowner and looking for a weekend project cordless drill, this may be too much for you, especially considering the cost. Being a contractor, this is EXACTLY what I was looking for. It's light, it's stout (not too long) and most importantly, it's POWERFUL. It is currently priced very competitively with the Pany. You can't lose with either! Milwaukee 2601-22 18-Volt Li-ion Compact Drill Kit

I was one of the unfortunate people to buy one of the Milwaukee Ni-cad 18 volt drills with their defective batteries and charger so I did hesitate when buying this drill. I have DeWalt drills and like their performance but have been turned off by the mickey mouse (apologies to Disney) drill cases they provide with some drills and sell as an after market item for $40 for the many pro level DeWalt drills that sell without any storage case at all.



The Milwaukee Li-ion batteries work well so far. I have yet to drop a drill and know that some of the early Li-ion batteries would explode when dropped so this is still an experimental tool for me in that respect. They seem to run cooler than the Ni-cads and I would expect longer life with more recharges possible.



The LEDs are great and it is nice to see they provide a belt hook. With the similarly priced Makita Li-ion drills this is something you have to order from customer service and pay an extra $15 (when Makita has them in stock or find one for sale on eBay and hope the seller is legit).



It has good torque and the keyless chuck works very well - better than a key chuck when cutting tough materials like plywood where there is often a lot of vibration. The Milwaukee chuck is much better than the one on the Makita Li-ion drill that sells in this price range, and which I also own and use.



I have even used the Milwaukee Li-ion drill to cut large 9-1/4" holes in wood paneling for Air Tec's MV air conditioning outlets using a Hole Pro X-305 adjustable hole cutter (also highly recommended!!!!). They are a great combination for a lot of projects.

I have been an electrician for over 20 years, and have seen and used alot of cordless drills in this time. I have either owned them or my employees have owned them (Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Hitachi, PC, Panasonic, Bosch). With that being said Milwaukee has been the best brand for me thus far. The Dewalts are junk and the rest of the drills are pretty good with the exception of the Panasonic being quite a bit above average. The reason why I don't keep the Panasonic is because I need other cordless tools eg: sawzall, circular saw. The Milwaukee V28 series is an absolute beast when it comes to power and WEIGHT! This is why I started looking for a compact drill. I still needed the power with a 1/2" chuck and lighter drill, because I also currently have the Bosch impactor, and pocket driver with jst a 1/4" chuck. I have owned the Milwaukee 18v cordless stuff in the past and was pleased with it, albeit not great - why I ended up getting the V28. With that being said I charged up the batteries and put it to the test. My first chore was to drill a 1/2" hole thru a metal tub using a variable step bit. What a huge disappointment this was! The drill hardly could get through it, it kept stopping with hardly any load on it, and I would check the battery level as it would show it completely drained. I would have to do this over and over again, because the battery can't take hardly any load on it (these batteries have an overheat protector on them so it shows you the led level is low when it does have a charge, once it cools down it will come back up to near the level it was at - which I suppose is a good thing). Next I went to put on some devices, and the drill actually did a decent job, nice and quick, and light. Then for my next test I needed to drill holes through some 2x's, with a 1 1/8" auger bit. Again what a disappointment, it sure wouldn't do it in high gear, and really struggled in low to get it done. The final test was to see how these batteries did in the cold. Now to be fair, no batteries that I have ever had, with the exception of the Milwaukee V28 have had some type of degradation due to the cold. This includes the new series of batteries too (Li-ion, Nimh, Nicd). Alas, these turned out to be the same as the rest. The Bosch li-ion batteries I have are absolutely terrible when it comes to the cold. So just like the rest of the batteries I have to put them by a halogen light to keep them warm so they can charge and still hold a charge. AAAAAGH this is the most frustrating thing for me, can't somebody please design a battery for us blue collar guys who actually use these in frigid temps. Anyway, I had high hopes for this compact, being that I am a loyal Milwaukee fan, and it was by far subpar.

Pros: lightweight, 1/2" chuck, nice case, bit holder, belt hook

Cons: Underpowered!, batteries, led light (not very bright, and does not shine where it needs to), made in China, non metal chuck.

I bought this tool on the strength of the Milwaukee name and I think it will be my last Milwaukee tool.



Bad side -- I bought this drill to rebuild my deck and the tool barely made it thru the project. I found it terribly underpowered and it drained batteries at an astounding pace. I was changing batteries every 15 minutes. Gutless...regardless of setting selected, it would bog down at the slightest resistance. drilling into Standard 2X4 studs gave it problems even with the battery fully charged



Good side -- it is very compact



I would not buy it again.



Update 19 April 10 -- I finally got rid of this thing after talking to Milwaukee Customer Service. They claim this is a home owner driver for hanging pictures and driving a few screws here and there. And if I want better battery life, they are telling me I need to upgrade to the larger battery size. What?!?! I don't know about you, but when I pay almost $200 bucks for a tool, that places it beyond the homeowner catagory for me. And I expect it ready to perform out of the box without paying for additional upgrades. I bought myself a Craftsman Professional 20 volt Lithium-Ion drill/driver kit. I cost the same and way better performace. battery life is awesome and it can handle the biggest jobs I have given it. - Cordless - Milwaukee - Drill - Lithium-ion'

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Lithium-ion - cordless, drill lithium-ion Lithium-ion - cordless, drill

Dvd Labels - dvd labels, avery

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I have been using Avery DVD labels for our photography business and are pleased with the ease of use and quality of the labels. So when we ran out, I decided to pay more for the Avery brand.



I could not find the exact item number of the labels we had been using so I ordered these. When I received them, I realized that these labels have a much larger middle hole than the other version, and I wish this was indicated somehow. It is not a major enough problem for me to return these, but it is an annoyance because it eats into the space I have for images.



Also, these labels are made to line up with plastic jewel CD cases. The other version I used but now can no longer find, easily slip of the middle spine in a stack of DVDs, which makes for error-proof alignment.



Would recommend for its Avery quality, but other buyers, do take note if the center hole is something of concern.



*Oh, another thing: I'm not sure why such a requirement was set on this product, but Amazon told UPS that this is a 'signature required' item. It was annoying because a simple pack of labels could not be left on our porch when we were gone, causing delay in delivery even when I paid for quicker shipping. I guess what added to the irony was that we had expensive camera gear delivered the same day and that package was left behind our screen door, but not the labels. Avery CD Labels - 100 Disc labels & 200 Spine labels (8691)

These labels work great in my HP inkjet printer. The finish is matte not glossy on the labels. No jams in the printer.



The labeling instructions are a little different for these than other Avery labels I have used. After printing the label sheet you remove the label from the sheet with two of the side backing papers still intact. You then align the label on the CD/DVD while it is in a jewel case. Once aligned, it is pressed onto the disc in the middle and the two side backing papers can be removed.

After you do one it becomes easier.

Good labels and good price.

These labels are very good and easy to apply. They are light and stay in place very well.

At over $30 for a package of 100 labels (two on a page) they seem a bit overpriced but I was able to get a lower price thru Amazon.

The best part about these Avery CD/DVD labels (#8691) is that they include both spine & disc labels.

(Other labels usually include only the disc labels) Easy-to-use and adhere to storage case surface very nicely! - Cd Label - Label - Avery - Dvd Labels'

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Recommend - recommend, versapak

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I have had a large collection of Versapak tools for years. The old nicad batteries were shot. The Versapak gold battery uses NiMH technology that really outshines the old nicad batteries. This is the best price that I have found and delivery was quick. Black & Decker Vp 110 - 5 Versapak Gold 5-pack Batteries

I have had three Versapak tools (drill, screwdriver and hand vacuum cleaner) for several years, and some time back the original silver Versapak NiCd batteries died, rendering the tools useful only for taking up space and collecting dust. Fortunately I discovered the new NiMH Versapak Gold units.



Web research showed the new NiMH units are free of NiCd "memory" that did in the original batteries, hold a charge longer, and have more power - a potential winner.



The tools require a total of five batteries to replace the deceased silver units, so after searching the web for replacements (in some cases at $28 PER BATTERY, PLUS shipping and tax!), I was doing mental math that was leading inexorably toward trashing... er... "recycling" the tools, when I discovered that Amazon had a five battery set for $15 a cell with free shipping, which was a clear bargain, and certainly cheaper than tossing the tools out....



We can be certain that Black and Decker made a financial decision to produce a replacement battery instead of abandoning the legacy Versapak tools, and are making a few bucks on the Gold Versapaks, but it is really good to not have to toss out three perfectly good tools as tribute to the god of planned obsolescence. - Black And Decker - Recommend - Versa Pak - Versapak'

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Recommend - recommend, versapak recommend Recommend - recommend, versapak

Shower Caddy Tension Pole Rust - shower storage, oxo

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This is a phenomenal product. I'd give it ten stars if I could, and while it's certainly expensive, the price is more than matched by the quality. I was a bit reluctant to shell out the money for it, especially given there were no reviews here, but I'm very glad I did. I've had a different tension-pole shower caddy for several years, and it was amateur-hour compared to Good Grips' offering. The old pole was flimsy and bowed slightly in the middle from the tension. The shelves were held in place by plastic sleeves that used friction to keep them in place. The joints in the poles were covered with metallic tape, and the ends were capped with rubber stops that were so flimsy the pole actually cut through them. In addition to all that, the shelves were very shallow, and items placed on them frequently fell off with the slightest bump or knock.



The Good Grips caddy, however, is night and day different. The pole is really sturdy #no bowing#, and is joined with heavy-duty plastic screw ends. In addition, there are several pieces to the pole, so you can adjust it to fit various heights. I've now moved it to a part of the shower where I wasn't able to put the old caddy -- which is a huge space-saver in my situation.



The locking mechanism for the shelves is brilliant. Whoever designed it should get a raise. Shelves are easy to adjust, but are also sturdy and very secure when locked in place. They're also quite deep, and the idea of having holes for putting bottles in upside down is genius. I haven't had any trouble with items falling off, either. Oh, and I really like the fact that I can remove the plastic trays from the metal frames to clean them. That's a nice touch.



Finally, the ratcheting mechanism the caddy uses to create tension is very easy to use and adjust, and creates a very secure lock. Also, the end caps are made of heavy-duty rubber, and are shaped to take advantage of corners.



I couldn't be more pleased with the caddy. I never write reviews, but this was just such a great product that I felt compelled to share. It's got so many intelligent design features, and it's easy to install, easy to move, and easy to clean. I can't think of a single negative thing about it, and I also can't think of anything else I wish it had. Seriously, the designers of this product should get an award! I wish all products were as intelligently designed and as well made as this one. OXO Good Grips Lift and Lock Pole Caddy

I'll admit it: I definitely balked a bit at the price when I first saw this. But after some hand-wringing, I decided to give it a shot because this tension pole caddy looked a million times better than those nasty plastic or chrome-plated ones, and OXO products have always treated me very well. I have to let people know that this is an AMAZING product.



PROS: Extremely easy to install, looks beautiful, and the amount of shelving is incredible. They are generously deep and very level (I made sure the tension pole was plumb using a small level); no shampoo bottles falling over when I put something down. And there are ample drainage holes on each. I actually only have 3 of them up because I don't have enough bath products at the moment! This past weekend was bathroom-cleaning time, and those shelves come off easily to wash if you wanted to, which I did.



CONS: None. It's too soon to comment on it's ability to not rust, but I'll try to remember to update on that after a few more months have gone by.



If you want a tension pole caddy, and this one looks perfect but seems a little too pricey, I recommend going for it. I probably shouldn't have, price-wise, but it's already proven to be well worth it.



UPDATE -- September 15, 2010, one year later



Still the best product. Continues to look and clean well, doesn't look a year old, and no rust whatsoever. Again, best $100 spent.

The shower caddies I got in the past all went rusty pretty quickly. I chose the OXO this time hoping that it's rust proof as it is claimed. It's three times more expensive. Unfortunately it did not deliver on the expectation. Two months after the purchase, I've already found multiple spots of rust. I'm planning on calling their customer service.

Update 12/29/10: After roughly nine months of usage, I have noticed slight rusting around the bottom edge where the pole meets the rubber foot. I'm going to put some clear nail polish on the circular spot with hopes that it does not spread. The cheaper one that I purchased has not shown any signs of rusting.



Original: I bought 2 different stainless steel bath caddy's at the same time and this is a far superior product than my other one. I wish I'd bought 2 of these! I've been using it for about 3 straight months and no rusting. It was a cinch to put together and the shelves are the best part. They go on easily, just as promised. It looks great in the bathtub too. Highly recommended!

I was very reluctant to spend over $100 on a shower caddy. However, I've gone through several shower caddies over the years that cost much less, but they rusted within about 3 months. So, if this one didn't rust I felt like it would be worth the money.



I've had this shower caddy almost 7 months and am pleased overall. I have noticed, however, small rust spots forming now in between the plastic bins and the stainless steel. No doubt from water getting trapped in between. Otherwise, it is still rust free.



The bins lock onto the pole separetely and do not have to be attached before the pole is in place. This is a nice feature compared to other caddies I've owned where you had to put the bins on and slide them down the pole before you place it in your tub/shower. Be careful though because the part that actually locks onto the pole is plastic. One of these broke after about 3 months of use. However, I was extremely impressed with OXO's customer service. Not long after I emailed them, I received a replacement stainless steel holder for my bin in the mail at no charge. However, beware, they sent me only the part that attaches to the pole, minus the plastic portion that actually holds your stuff. Luckily, I had not thrown away the broken bin and was able to take the plastic out and put it in the new stainless steel holder.



The bins are much more spacious than other shower caddies I've owned. There are also a couple of hooks that are perfect for holding razors.



The inside of the bins do not seem to get as dirty as other caddies I've owned. I wipe them off at least every month or so.



I may be contacting OXO again if the rust spots continue. If it wasn't for the small rust spots, I would have rated this product 5 stars. - Stainless Steel - Shower Storage - Shower Organization - Oxo'

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False Advertising - software, fraud

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This product is NOT AS DESCRIBED.



It doesn't say so anywhere, but when you register it you will discover that it actually is Dragon 10 - their out-of warrantee product.



If you have trouble getting it to work - as I did - the company will tell you that it is out of warrantee and customer support is not available without and additional fee.



It didn't work and I returned it. Dragon Naturally Speaking: Voice to Text for Digital Voice Recorders

As with Dragon 10 Standard, this worked great out of the box. Installing this turned my Standard Edition into the Preferred Edition allowing me to transcribe dictation from my portable recorder. Not sure why the other bad reviews and comments - a little research might help as would reading the directions. - Fraud - Speech Recognition - Software - Voice To Text'

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Garmin Nuvi 255w - 255w, garmin nuvi

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I actually could not decide between the Garmin Nuvi 255w or the 750 model, so I decided to buy them both for comparison. I mounted them both to my car windshield and gave them various addresses to find together. I found that both models took the same routes and announced upcoming turns and street names at practically the same time. One thing I noticed about the 255w was that it was updating my position on the road more often, I'd say about 3 times as often as the 750. This made for smoother graphics on the 255w of the vehicle moving along displayed roads, where the 750's display was more of a "jerky" movement. I also found that the display on the 255w was a bit brighter, clearer, and more vivid than on the 750 in both daylight and at night. Another feature I like on the 255w is the graphic turn indicator in the upper left corner, which the 750 lacks. This is a small arrow which shows upcoming turns and the distance to that turn. It also show things like a fork in the road, (ie: a Y intersection), and which fork you will be taking. The 750 just displays text on the top line for upcoming turns without the arrow. It's just a little extra feature on the 255w which I happened to really like. The 255 also automatically adjusts the font size of displayed text so that even lengthy text will fit.

Another feature on the 255w is a display of the posted speed limit on the road which you are currently on right above your current displayed speed. I found myself not even looking at my car speedometer as I could easily see my current speed and the speed limit of my route at a glance. The 750 doesn't have this feature. I also like how they moved the zoom in (+) and zoom out (-) buttons on the 255w to the same side of the screen which makes it a bit easier. On the 750 the zoom buttons are on opposite sides of the screen.

Now there are some features on the 750 that the 255w does not have. The 750 can broadcast it's sound over your FM radio with the supplied cigarette lighter cable, and it has a headphone jack, which I found to be nice features. The 750 also has an MP3 player and an Audio-book player, which the 255w does not. Another really nice feature of the 750 is the car locater. This is a great feature if you are parking in a really big lot, such as at an amusement park or a fair. The 750 marks your location when you remove it from the car, then you take it with you and it remembers where you parked and takes you right back to your car. The 255w doesn't have the car locater.

I also thought the the voice prompts of the 750 where more pleasant sounding than the 255w's. The 750 sounds more like a real female voice, where the 255w sounds more robotic.

Another thing to consider was that I paid $50 less for the 750 and it came with the FM transmitter cable and a USB cord to connect it to your computer for updates and downloads.

My final decision was to keep the 255w and return the 750 because I really liked the graphic turn indicator and the posted speed limit and current speed indicators. I didn't find a need for the 750's MP3 player and Audio book player, but that is up to personal preference. Since the USB cable was not included with the 255w, I purchased it on this site for $10. I also intend to purchase the MSN direct cable when it is available in August 2008. Garmin nüvi 255W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished)

If you spend much time driving in unfamiliar territory, especially if you rent cars in big cities, a good portable GPS makes an amazing difference. And the Garmin 255W is the best one I could find in the $250 - $350 range.



First this thing just plain works. I haven't had any issues with mine. It was easy to set up and figure out right out of the box, and it's easy to use. It never has had trouble getting sufficient signal unlike earlier and cheaper models.



I chose the 255W for several reasons: It uses some of the newest and best maps available. It has one of the more usable touch screens for entering destinations. It's fast to acquire satellites. And Garmin almost always comes out on top in reviews--especially in routing.



Ultimately, you buy a car GPS to get you from Point A to Point B as easily and efficiently as possible. And that's what the 255W does best. If you've ever had a "Brand X" GPS take you on some strange route that adds 20 minutes to your trip, has you turn the wrong way down a one way road, tell you to turn AFTER you've passed the street, frequently loses the satellite signal, or has old maps missing streets, you know how important this stuff is.



The 255W has a really clear display that's easy to see in any light. It's small enough to use on foot. The windshield mount works great and it's easy to toss in the glovebox when you park. It even tells you the speed limit on most roads. The "points of interest" feature works very well to find places to eat by type of cuisine, gas stations, etc.



The difference between the 255W and 205W is the 255 speaks street names and includes Alaska and Canada. The 205 and 205W will tell you to "turn right in 500 feet" which isn't as helpful or obvious as "turn right on Ivy Street in 500 feet". The "W" models are widescreen which makes entering destinations easier due to having a bigger "keyboard" and also lets you see more map area while driving.



All in all this isn't the cheapest GPS in its class but it's one of the best. My only gripe is you need an expensive add-on to get live traffic data--something that's included with the Magellan Roadmate 1430 which is close to the same price. But the Garmin 255W is a better GPS in every other way. - 255w - Garmin 255w - Garmin Nuvi - Gps'

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Portable Radio - boom box, mp3 player

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Terms



S2 = Sony ZS-XN30 Multi-Codec S2 Sports CD/Tuner Boombox (White)

H10 = Sony ZS-H10CP Heavy Duty CD Radio Boombox



Background: I bought the H10 to replace a defunct S2. I use three S2s and one H10 daily (and simultaneously) at a swimming pool, so I compare them daily.



My biggest surprise is that, contrary to what the specs imply, the H10 sounds twice as loud as the S2. Perhaps this is due in large part to the H10's significantly better base: there is noticeably more of it, and it is very clean (has low distortion). I play the S2 with the Mega Bass button on, yet the H10 bass is so pronounced and clean that I leave the its Mega Bass off. "Specs imply" means that the specifications state that the H10 = 2.3 watts per speaker vs 2.0 watts for the S2.



The H10 is significantly easier to use than the S2: The S2's up-down Volume buttons have been replaced with a large dial, the S2's jog control whose operation baffled water aerobic instructors has been replaced with clearly marked buttons, and that aggravating push-to-open CD cover has been replaced with a cover that has a hinge lock. And since the CD cover of two of my three S2's is nonfunctional, my guess is that this new hinge-lock cover will be more durable.



On the H10 but not on the S2 are: Line-in (for tape players and ipods), and a storage compartment. The latter is large enough both for both the H10's wall plug and a line-in jack (not provided).



The H10 is noticeably heavier than the S2, about the same width and depth, and twice the S2's heigth. Also, the black-red motif is much more in-your-face than the subtle white of the S2.



8/17/06 Update: At least twice the controls have locked up; that is, the controls have acted as if a "Hold" switch was turned on, except the H2 has no such switch. Both times removing the batteries solved the problem. I deduce that this is caused by some combination of relatively uncommon button-pushing.

7/27/09 Update: Absolutely no lockup since the Summer of '06.



In summary, the H10 both sounds better and is significantly easier to operate than the S2.



10/16/06 Update: I've started adapting to limited floorspace by playing the H10 on its side; note that it is designed to be able to do so.



11/7/06 Update: The H10 sounds so much better than the S2 that I replaced all three S2s with H10s.



7/27/09 Update:

1. To get maximum performance at maximum volume, plug the H10 in, to either a wall socket or an external battery, like the Duracell Powersource Mobile 100.

2. Lasts longer poolside than any other boombox I know of: Most boomboxes last about 6 months poolside; in contrast, the two H10's lasted for more than two years of daily (Monday through Friday) use; then their CD players stopped working at about the same time. Sony ZSH10CP Heavy Duty CD Radio Boombox

A quick caveat before I review. As of 5/12/2006 the Sony site (and Sears, too) still says this boombox takes 'C' batteries. It doesn't, it takes 'D' size, though a quantity of 6 is correct. I can't see that Amazon has included battery info. one way or the other.



This is truly an Industrial Strength boombox - extremely rugged. I bought one for my handicapped daughter, who needs almost constant music to keep her happy, but has been pretty rough on past boomboxes. This one ought to last.



It is significantly larger than the average portable boombox, so pay attention to the dimensions and weight to see if it's a fit for you.



The only weak spot is the antenna, which my daughter managed to break the first day. Be careful how you restore it to its telescoped slot. We can't find a replacement antenna yet.



Also, it lists on the Sony site and at Sears for $129.99, so I don't know where this site got a list price of $179.99.

I searched high and low for a product like this and seriously, this was the only one that had it all ... plays regular and mp3 CDs, AM/FM radio, line-in for any external player from laptops to mp3 players, no useless cassette player to get in the way and most importantly, it has GREAT sound; plenty of volume and bass response. Yes, it's heavy duty. It is rugged enough to take along to the work site, keep in the garage, take camping, you name it; it has sealed compartments and speaker guards to protect from dust or hits; it has a sturdy handle built into a protective frame; it has a small enough footprint to sit on most standard shelves ... also, it has a smarter, simpler look that I appreciate; it doesn't look like some sci-fi robot or a work of abstract art ... it is surprisingly light since the power supply is contained with the AC adapter (some might find it a negative to have to lug around a heavier, bulky AC adapter, but it depends on your perspective). The unit also contains a storage compartment for line-in cords, head phones or mp3 players. Like I said, it is hard to find any other product that completely rivals this unit in it's price range. Highly recommended if you need a rugged player with great sound, mp3 capabilities and line-in feature. I am really enjoying mine.

I really expected to like this boombox, but I was disappointed almost immediately, because the radio tuning isn't selective.



In other words, even when you're listening to strong stations, you can hear other stations "bleeding over" into the one you're tuned to. It's like a ghost station in the background. It's not horrible, but it messes with the sound.



For example, when listening to a rock station, I could hear faint talk-radio. On talk-radio, I could hear faint music. On a classics station, commercials from nearby stations were *really* noticable when they came on.



There was actually another problem with my particular sample, which is that it arrived with a faulty display (didn't have all the segments working in the rightmost character/number), but I could have lived with that.



The sound quality might be pretty good for CD's, MP3's and other clean sources, but I bought this specifically for the radio, and that part stinks (both AM and FM were plagued with this problem). There is simply no excuse for poor selectivity in a $140 radio. No speakers sound good playing two radio stations at the same time.



Other disappointments were the lack of a simple, conventional cord (it comes with a transformer), and a significantly cheaper feel than I expected. But the lack of clean, clear radio reception makes this a no-buy recommendation from me. - Portable Radio - Boom Box - Cd Player - Mp3 Player'

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Twist Bits

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For the hobbist, small drills are a must.



I found the 20 pc #numbered drills a blessing. They were sharp and clean of burres. I found it easy to twist drill them through soft tin and bass wood, even oak with just my fingers.



Very please.20 piece Tiny Small Drill Bits #61-80 Numbered Sizes High Speed Steel (HSS) Wire Gauge 20 piece Tiny Small Drill Bits #61-80 Numbered Sizes High Speed Steel (HSS) Wire Gauge

I have a Amateur Radio license. I have been in electronics, short-wave, CB and ham radio, for almost 50 years!

Not always, but, sometimes I etch printed circuit (PC) boards. Other times, I use perf boards with flea clips or solder to chips in the "dead man" fashion.

It is hard to fine very small drill bits for pc poards. When I got this, WOW!! I am set for many years!! This set is tiny! It is smaller that a small box of matches! The smallest drill bits are easy to loose! Very impressive! WB'

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