B000f3i5zy - stapler, hardwood

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This item is a great assett to anyone that does engineered flooring installation. Very visible staple cartridge. No jambs and accurate on every shot. Consistant depth control. Ran this tool on a 2 gallon air compressor and had no problems Bostitch LHF97125-2 Floor Runner Laminated Hardwood Flooring Stapler for 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch Flooring

Bought this from Amazon when they were running a promo. Used the staples recommended by Amazon (German made) as well as Bostich staples bought at Home Depot. Installed Mirage Engineered Hardwood floor due to online and distributor reviews (cannot buy Mirage online any longer, but has an excellent distribution network as far as I can see).

The stapler worked flawlesly for over 7500 staples. Back in box and looks new. I take of the tools and don't use pneumatic staplers as a general purpose hammer or bottle opener.

Minor complaint: has no 'empty' indicator. Ran out once or twice and had to go back over last plank to find last staple point. Get in the habit of checking the magazine.

Very light, easy to use. Size and weight of stapler was one reason I used engineered instead of solid wood in this application (second floor bedrooms, 2 5/8" plywood sheets as subfloor, so did not need any increased stiffness from hardwood floor, such as 3/4 solid may provide.)

With some care, you can start using the stapler from the second course outwards, which is very nice, esp in closets.

Worked flawlessly to lay 600sq/ft of 3/8" solid Brazillian Redwood from BellaWood. Make sure you grab this gun for the hard solid woods as I rented the LHF97125-2 first and it wouldn't push the 20ga staples all the way through.

If looking for an accurate and time saving tool this is the way to go. No wiping away messy glue just set the Floor Runner to the proper height of your laminate floor and run with it. The angle of the staples push the seems together for a good tight fit leaving no gaps.

I used this gun to install about 100 sq feet of Bruce/Armstrong Natural Reflections Oak flooring. It made the install go super smooth with no major issues. Jammed maybe once and it took a few minutes to get a feel for it. Once you get going it is amazing. I highly recommend it.

It will staple engineered flooring down but be prepared for more than a few bent and twisted staples. Unless you apply heavy pressure against the flooring the bent staples will damage the edge and you will need to remove it. Perhaps I have a lemon and you will have better luck than I did. Hope it works better for you than it did for me.

Recently purchased this product to lay down enginered flooring. It is definately worth the cost as it makes a challenging job a lot easier. The main obsticle I had was finding the correct staples locally. I actually found them in Home Depot in their tool rental area. My local Home Depot rents this same model out (if you can get it) which always gives me some confidence in its sturdiness.



If your going to lay engineered flooring ... get this product.

This is my first time using a flooring stapler. It took me a while to get used to the proper positioning to get the staples at the inside edge of the tongue of the boards. After that every thing went smoothly.

We are in the construction/residential remodeling business in Florida. Most homes here are built on a concrete slab so we have installed many hardwood floors by gluing them...not fun, but necessary. We recently remodeled a frame home with plywood sub-floors and finally had the opportunity to use staples for the installation, so ordered this tool. What a time saver!! It worked like a charm throughout the entire 2300 sq. foot installation. No glitches, no jamming up of the staples. I just wish there were more wood frame structures down this way! Highly recommended!

My previous hardwood installs were done with adhesive, and I wasn't about to go through that mess again, so I decided to buy a stapler. I research heavily before I make a purchase such as this, and as usual, it paid off. I drove about 4000 staples on the first job with this stapler and it went great! It was easy to set up, easy to use, lightweight but not cheaply made, and the learning curve was smooth and easy! As long as you make certain the stapler is positioned correctly on the board you're good to go. Once you get it positioned, you just slide it along the board and fire however often you want. I stapled every two inches approximately. I tend to go into overkill, but I didn't want squeaks. This was much easier and faster and cleaner than using adhesive, and with the price of manufacturer-approved adhesives being what they are, this stapler is a real bargain, considering I can use it on future jobs. - Cpo Bostitch - Flooring - Hardwood - Stapler'

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Watches For Will - classic look, luxury

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For the past few years my "everyday" watch was a Seiko chronograph. While there is nothing wrong with it, I decided I wanted something with a little more style. Initially, I bought a Seiko Coutura, but returned it disappointed. I decided to spend a little more, but since I'm not a watch collector, I think $1,000 was about as much as I wanted to spend for a utility watch (or a quartz), though $500 would have probably been more practical (I guess it depends on where one draws the line between utility and luxury).



I looked at Tissot, which was probably the best choice for its price, also Movado, Bulova, and a few others, but really liked the style of the Tag Aquaracer. I chose this model because it's simple yet stylish. A chronograph would have been okay too, but all the ones I looked at were just too large for my taste. While this model is average in size, it's not too large or heavy.



I trust that Amazon Direct sells authentic, non-refurbished watches, while offering a good warranty (not sure about the third party sellers), but I decided to purchase from a local authorized dealer. They gave me a discount, so I only ended up paying about $100 more, and I have the manufacturer's warranty. (Had they not given me the discount I would have had no problem buying from Amazon Direct)



I give this watch a 5 star overall, but for those interested in buying this watch, I'll point out a couple of things.



If you're farsighted or often in dimly lit areas, the watch can be a little hard to see. The dial and date are a little small, and the hands can blend into the background. I knew this before I bought it, but just mentioning it for those considering buying online. The same version of this watch with black or blue faces are much easier to read, but I really liked the look of the silver face (there is also a WAF1111 that is silver with different finish). I just think if Tag had put a black trim around the hands it would have been a little better design, but perhaps that would make it look tacky, who knows. That said, you should have absolutely no problem reading it in the office, outside, or pretty much 90% of the time, and I you're like me and don't want a huge watch, the trade-off may have to be a slightly smaller face.



The other issue is the value of Tag's brand recognition versus other "luxury" brands. I looked at the Tissot very closely, as well as Bulova and some others, and overall the quality seemed to be on par. Albeit, I'm not a watchmaker, and I did not look inside. However, quartz movements are pretty consistent (versus some of the more expensive mechanical watches), so candidly speaking, I think it's pretty obvious there is a fairly steep premium one pays for brand recognition when buying a Tag Heuer, though obviously this is subjective.



Nevertheless, without question this is a quality watch, and it looks great. Since I have only owned it for a few days, I cannot comment on its longevity, how it stands up to nicks and scratches, or its accuracy, but I'm pleased with my purchase and would recommend this watch to others.



----Update October 31, 2009----



Set to the U. S. Naval Observatory clock, the watch gained just 3 seconds in 4 months - about 9 seconds per year. TAG Heuer Men's WAF1112.BA0801 Silver Aquaracer Watch

This watch was a birthday present a year ago. I wanted to wait to write the review to see if I still felt the same way I did when it was new. I love this watch. Classic styling with great look and feel. The band was too large when I got it. I took it to the local jewler and he had no problem removing links, but DID say to hold on to each one as they were about $100 per link to replace if needed. I love the TAG. It dresses up or down as needed and fits in with any company. I'm a convert.

I have been a fan of high end watches for many years and I finally got one of my own... Well my wife green lighted the purchase for a Christmas present this year. First off, Amazon was excellent! They shipped the item very promptly and insisted on a signature for delivery. They will not just leave it on your doorstep for someone to take. That said when you open the shipping container you will know right away that you own a VERY prestigious timepiece. The Tag Heuer box is enormous relative to its contents. When you open the outer box you will find your Amazon watch warranty and a leather bound sleeve containing your owner information. And then the fun starts. The actual leather bound watch box is beatiful and when you open it up your timepiece is resting, wrapped around a pillow. I immediately took it to a Tag dealer to have 3 links removed and verify its authenticity. The dealer showed me that the watch did have all the correct markings and the serial number in tact and was 100% authentic. She said this reluctantly knowing the amount of money that I saved. 700 dollars plus 7% sales tax to be exact. I started to second guess myself about the quartz vs mechanical watch debate but I am happy with a quartz movement. Trust me for I have owned mechanical watches. It is great to know that your quartz Tag is not only a beautiful piece of jewelry, it also keeps very accurate time unlike even more expensive mechanical watches. Cost of upkeep will also be much less for maintenance on a mechanical watch will eventually eclipse the cost of original purchase over time. Thank you Amazon for providing authentic luxury watches for reasonable prices. Keep it up so I can expand my collection!!!!

This is a beautiful watch, like all TAG Heuers, that will last you a lifetime. My wife bought mine while we were in South Africa to replace a 15-year-old TAG chronograph, and paid more in a duty-free shop than Amazon charges. Great bargain here. The only downside to owning a TAG is that you will pay about $90 every 2 or 3 years to replace the battery and seals. Even so it's a 5-star watch! - Tag Heuer - Classic Look - Aquaracer - Luxury'

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Yoga Mats Strap

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This yoga sling is easy-to-use and lightweight but will not fit extra-large mats. The strap is unpadded and a little uncomfortable to carry for an extended period.



This sling holds my Manduka eKO 71-Inch 5mm Yoga Mat comfortably, with a little space to spare. I think it would hold the 71" Manduka BlackMatPro (which is about 1.25mm thicker), but an extra-long would not fit.



The strap design makes the sling easy to carry horizontally. Slung vertically over my shoulder, it angles a bit under my arm (doesn't sit flat against my back). The unpadded strap is a little uncomfortable on my shoulder with the heavy Manduka mat, and would probably chafe during a longer walk.



It's hard to argue with the this sling's low price. For short car-to-studio walks, recommended. YogaDirect Deluxe Yoga Mat Harness Sling, Black/Purple (Mat Not Included)

Solid basic harness.



Fits my Gaiam extra thick 5mm yoga mat perfectly, with room to spare. I'd imagine if you have a slightly thicker mat it'd fit that too.



Straps around mat are adjustable, shoulder strap is not, but it fits comfortably over your shoulder so you can walk/bike with it.



It does what it should and seems like it's well made.

You get what you pay for with this item. Decent quality and the colors a nice. I wish the belt snaps were farther/wider apart, that way when you carry your yoga mat, it doesn't seem lopsided. But that's not a big deal.

I have just verified that my Manduka BlackMatPro fits in the sling! I now own two of these mat slings and love them both! I use both the Manduka BlackMatPro and the Manduaka Prolite mats, this is a nice way to transport a heavier mat as I don't care for the traditional mat bag. This particular sling features buckles on the straps, which I much prefer to the velcro that Gaiam uses on their slings.

I was worried when I first purchased this harness sling that it may not fit around my mat, but I'm happy to say that it does! I have an extra long mat and it is 1/4-inch thickness. It's a great deal. The only thing I'm not crazy about is that the actual part that goes around your body is not adjustable in length.

This is a fine yoga strap, especially for the price, but beware that the only part that's adjustable are the loops that go around the mat. Everything else (distance between those smaller loops, the larger loop that serves as a carry strap) is of fixed length.

This strap is amazing. It fits great across my body so going to class is really easy. This strap buckles and tightens so it can hold almost any size of mat. I have a really long 1/4in mat and with the buckles tightened it fits nice and snug. I believe there were a few complaints about the distance between the two buckles. I do not find this a problem and think that it is perfect. I would recommend this strap to everyone! The colors are great too and it matches my magenta colored mat.'

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External Dvd Drive - laptop accessories, slim external dvd rw

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this external dvd burner is by far the easiest to use, and the cheapest! but dont get me wrong on saying its cheap, because this a really good deal. I had no trouble at all installing it and using it. the title is a little misleading on saying it is for the asus EEE pc, but it can be used with anything that has 2 usb ports. the fact that it burns both dvd and dual layer dvds is amazing, considering other drives sell for $100+. in my opinion, the way the drive ejects (like a laptop drive) is a little annoying, but thats just me. when I got it, i was shocked on how small it actually is, about 5X5 inches and about an inch tall. External USB DVDRW DL DVD Burner Drive for ASUS EEE PC

Instantly recognized by my ASUS Netbook, which uses Windows XP. Two cables are supplied, but I found that I didn't need the second added power cable. It's good that one is included for those computers that will require the extra power boost to get the drive working. No software is included, so I used Free Easy CD Burner to burn an ISO file to DVD. I also tried playing a DVD. Again no problems. The only issue I noted, and that's being picky, is that the top of the tray would sometimes contact the case if I pushed it in too quickly. As with my ASUS USB External drive it feels a bit flimsy, but I think that is to be expected due to how lightweight these things are.

I bought this device after the DVD burner on my laptop went bad. I have a netbook as well, so I figured that getting this would give me the ability to use have DVDs on both devices while only paying for one drive. I received it, opened it up, and was surprised to see 2 USB cords (I hadn't noticed the 2 cords in the image). One cord draws power from your computer to power the device, the other transfers data. This could be a problem for someone who uses a laptop that only has 2 usb ports, as this would take up both of them, leaving none for any peripherals you wanted to connect. Since my laptop has 4, I decided this wasn't so bad and set it up.



It worked well for playing videos, etc. I am, however, a linux enthusiast, so I regularly test other distros. I figured this would be a good test. I put in a disc with an iso burned on it, rebooted my computer, and was very disappointed to see that this device, no matter what configuration I used, would not boot a DVD. I tried everything I could within the boot setup, but eventually had to give in and admit that I needed an internal DVD drive. Returned it.



IF you're just looking for a DVD writer and don't mind that it takes 2 usb ports up, this could be fore you.

I love the idea of ultra portable electronics and this item fits the bill. Having a laptop I need portable accessories to travel along and this small dvd burner works in all categories. Small, ease of use and works well. I will definitely buy another in the future.

This LG dvd burner was my best option for my HP dm3-1130us 13" laptop. A great little computer, but alas, no built in optical drive. I checked around, including the HP website, and was shocked at the prices for external optical drives! All the major retaillers (BestBuy, Walmart...and even several other Webtailers, such as Newegg and others) I was looking at prices up to and even over $100! In addition, many of those burners didn,t offer the features as this one. It is as good, no, it's even better than an optical burner that comes built into other laptops! A true great buy!

A lot of people have asked whether or not this device works well in other netbooks besides the Asus EEE PC. And specifically, the Samsung NC-20 netbook came up. Well, to put you at ease, I can say without a doubt that this will work with the Samsung NC-20 netbook. And it should work with any other netbook, so long as you have two USB ports on it.



As for my results: Plugged it in for the first time into the Samsung NC-20 netbook. Windows XP immediately recognized it as a DVD player/burner. Within seconds after plugging it into the USB port, I inserted a DVD video, and it played just fine in full-screen mode. Audio and video came through perfectly. There was no stuttering (what some people might refer to as the "herky-jerky" video that might be the result of a slow processor or something). Motion was smooth.



For a second test, I installed the Turbo Tax software from CD. It installed just fine. No problems.



It also played music CD's just fine.



And lastly, I tried burning a DVD. It works. No problems. I've not tried the dual-layer DVD burning just yet, but it should work. And note that I used the netbook's second USB port to power it while I was burning the DVD. Power was not an issue.



Probably the best part about this is the form factor and overall design. I have to say, this is the smallest, slimmest external DVD burner I've ever seen. When you have a netbook, it really does make a difference. That's because you bought a netbook due to its light weight and portability. It wouldn't make sense lugging around an external DVD drive that's as big as your netbook. Some of them are, believe it or not. Not this one.



Also, the feel of this device is really nice. The outside skin is kind of a velvety rubber. It's hard to explain. It just feels nice. The only thing I think needs improvement in this area - and this is just nitpicking - is that the edges are kind of sharp. Not that you'll get cut. That's not what I mean. I mean that they could have rounded the edges instead. That would make it more pleasing to the touch.



Now here's the thing about using two USB ports: You don't need to use two USB ports. If your device only has one USB port on it, you can still use this device. How? Well one of the USB connections is used only for power, while the other one is used to transfer data. So here's my tip: Buy a USB power adapter that you can plug into the wall socket. That will allow you to power the device using the wall socket instead of your netbook, so you don't need to have two USB ports, and you don't have to drain your netbook's battery. A typical USB wall socket adapter will cost around $10, by the way. But without a wall socket adapter, yes you will need two USB ports free on your netbook / laptop in order to use this device.



On the other hand, there are times when you're in the middle of nowhere, and you don't have a power outlet to use. That's when having this device is great. It means you can power it by just plugging in the second USB cable into your netbook or laptop. That's a great idea. Yeah, it might draw a little power from your battery, but it really does expand your options when you need it in a pinch. Awesome.



I've read some of the comments others have made about this device and other similar devices. I wanted to share my thoughts on some of their concerns:



Some people said that speed wasn't so good with this device. My feeling is that it's not much different from my current desktop PC's DVD burner. But then, that might be a few years out of date. Still, I'm not really noticing that it's overly slow. Seems good to me.



Some people have noticed that they can't play DVD video from it without going through a lot of trouble trying to download drivers and such. But that's because their netbook was designed without those drivers (I guess they figured since it didn't come with a built-in DVD drive, those drivers weren't necessary). So it's not this device's fault, in other words. I think most people won't have to worry about that, but if you do find that you can't play video, or if the video you're playing isn't perfectly smooth, you should look for a free program called VLC. You can download it at http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ . Once you have it installed, it should make for an excellent DVD video player.



One other thing I saw people saying was that they couldn't boot from this device, or maybe a similar device I saw out there. I believe their problem is that they haven't set their BIOS so that it can boot from USB port devices. Most laptops / netbooks will do it automatically, but some of them require you to go into your BIOS and enable it. Most people don't need to boot from CD/DVD, mind you. But if you do, and if you can't figure it out, try to grab a geeky friend to help you out.



Also, some have noted that it feels kind of delicate, like it won't take much abuse. I tend to agree. This is a small device, and the CD/DVD tray they used just feels fragile to me. You definitely need to take care of it and not try to shove CD's and DVD's into it very hard. It's a trade-off. Either you get a workhorse device that's bulky, heavy, and can take abuse, or you get this device and try to be a bit more careful about how much force you use to insert CD/DVD's.



For the money, it's a really compelling purchase. It's just dirt cheap (in price, not quality). I think this is one of those gadgets that everyone should have just in case they need it, since it does cost so little and is so useful.



I do have one question, though. I wonder if this can be used with the iPad or Android tablets? I'll give it a try when I have a chance and will update here with the result, probably in a couple of months when I finally decide to buy a tablet.



To conclude, I highly recommend this device. It's well worth the money, and it adds to your on-the-go capabilities if you have a netbook. - Slim External Dvd Rw - Laptop Accessories - Asus Eee - External Dvd Drive'

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Led Backlight - 1080p lcd hdtv, 37 inch lcd

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I researched all the flatscreen TVs in the 37-40" size category due to cabinet space requirements. Bought a Sony 40" and had to return it because my wife wouldn't let me take the doors of the furniture... Looked at Vizio due to price, performance, cabinet size, and having owned one. Did not find a model that met all the criteria. Found the outgoing Panasonic 37" model that came before this new model but it was getting hard to find at the firesale prices. I saw that the new TC-L37E3 was being release soon and put it in my basket and waited for release.



I liked that it had an ISP (In-Plane Switching panel) and the reviews of the previous model were favorable. The cabinet width was perfect at 35.1 inches. The fact that it was wi-fi ready did not matter to me since I already had an Apple Airport Express for the entertainment system and could feed a CAT5 cable directly to the TV. Have watched Netflix, Amazon VOD, listened to Pandora, all works great. The picture colors, sharpness, contrast, blacks, and viewing angle are fantastic and my wife and college age daughters have given positive comments. I only had to tweak a couple settings to get it matched to the room lighting with windows/blinds to the rear. Since it was a new model the first week out in release, my Logitech Harmony One remote did not have the canned codes available. A little training and the fact that the channels and volume are usually changed through the Cable/DVR and the A/V receiver result in no impact. I also like the optical digital out for playing internet music out to the stereo.



I am getting used the the small delays in the HDMI handshaking going on between the Motorola DVR, NAD T747 Receiver, and the TC-L37E3. Bottom line is that now that they are all hooked and set-up, they are working fine together.



Very Happy with the purchase! Panasonic VIERA TC-L37E3 37-Inch 1080p LED HDTV

I have bought more than 20 flat screen tvs, from plasma to lcd to led over the past ten years. Every brand included. Just got this one because it fit perfectly into a 35 1/2" wide cabinet. I understand the frustration of the others with the misinformation about the wireless. So beware if you intend to stream wirelessly. However, this tv produces a beautiful picture. The preset calibrations (vivid, standard, etc.) are not of much use. Go with vivid, reduce all settings 10-15% except for hue, which you will want to increase into the green range (Apologies to the videofiles out there). Might want to change setting from cool to normal, but not big difference Picture excellent and as good as my LG 5500 led, Sony w4100 lcd, Samsung 630 lcd (model numbers not exact, recalling from memory). The reviewer reporting terrible picture likely either has it miscalibrated or has a bad input signal. I have LAN hard wired to my router, works great. Very happy with this purchase. Arrived in 3 days even with free budget shipping.

I purchased this television for our bedroom, and we're quite happy with it. I highly recommend using a calibration DVD (I used Avia) to set the picture settings, as the ones from the factory are indeed crap! (like almost all modern TVs. Why is that?) The "standard" setting is way too low contrast / washed out, and the "vivid" setting has contrast so high that the shadow details are completely lost. I found that the "Game" setting tuned to [Contrast +90] [Brightness +57] and [Color +40] was about perfect, now that I have it calibrated the picture is even better than I anticipated.



Pros:

Incredible picture!

Embedded Pandora & Netflix players work fine

Lots of HDMI inputs

It's SO LIGHT AND THIN!



So/so:

Sound - decent but not stellar. About what you'd expect from embedded speakers



Cons:

No embedded WiFi (works with external adapter, purchased separately)

As most of us do, I researched "wi-fi" ready TV's and chose this particular Panasonic for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was that it is advertised as "wi-fi" ready. I already have a Roku hooked up to another TV but didn't want to deal with yet another electronic box. Well, I found out what Panasonic means by "wi-fi ready" when I powered up the TV, did the initial set-up and clicked on the wi-fi option. The TV immediately displayed a message telling me that there was no wi-fi adapter in place and instructed me to BUY one in order to take advantage of the TV's wi-fi capability. Huh? So suddenly and unexpectedly my TV costs $90 more. Not a nice surprise. False advertising? Bait and switch? You decide. Anyhow, the adapter has been ordered; I'll update this review when it arrives and IF "wi-fi" is then truly ready and the TV works as promised.



One pro: A terrific, easy to use remote. I like it a lot with its many control options and appreciate that it connects to my Viera-capable Panasonic Blu-Ray DVD player.



Three cons: First: the picture quality doesn't begin to match my more than 2-year-old Sony Bravia 32" LCD TV, neither the color nor the sharpness. Second: I'm having a devil of a time coming up with a pleasing color/brightness balance, a challenge I never faced with my Sony. Three: at this point, the Panasonic codes don't work with my DirecTV remote. I spent an hour on the phone with a DirecTV technician without success.



So that's my story. I'm both disappointed and annoyed with Panasonic, a usually reliable and customer-friendly company. But I'll give the new TV a fair chance before I make a final decision. And thanks to Amazon for the very useful TV evaluation period.

I have been looking for a 37" TV to fit into a particular piece of furniture for over 2 years. Everything has been too tall by 1/2" or more. This is a newly announced TV that is packaged perfectly. It has great features and a great picture. If you are hooking it up to a wired internet connection and are using a hub in addition to the router, you cannot connect the TV to a hub port. It has to be on one of the router ports. It took a long time with Panasonic support to figure this out. That said, the support line was great and appeared to be US based.



My only real negative was that Amazon did not ship the set when they said they would. It was in stock but my order got screwed up twice. - 1080p Lcd - 37 Inch - 37 Inch Lcd - 1080p Lcd Hdtv'

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Naughty Monkey - womens boot, naughty monkey

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I absolutely love this boot. I am 5'8 and it actually come above my knee by about 3". The heel height is perfect as well. True to size. The only problem I have had is that the color bleeds on my socks and on my hands while putting them on. Not sure if this happens to everyone who bought this or if it's only my pair. Overall satisfied with my purchase though. Naughty Monkey Women's Story Teller Boot,Taupe,8.5 M US

I had been looking for tall to the knee or over the knee boots for quite some time. These are comfortable wearing and walking in. The suede is heavy weight, and the cute belt/buckles really add to the overall look. I ride a motorcycle, so the "look" fits right in.

i bought these boots as a back to school present for myself but they ended up being more of a present for my boyfriend. he loves these boots on me and took my out on a hot date the night i got them. definatly worth the price and good quality, comfy for the style but took a few wears to break them in. i also have a very wide & flat foot and these fit very nicely.

These Naughty Monkey people are NOT kidding about thigh high! I am 5'7" and these were TOO high on my leg, making the fattest part of my thigh the visible part. :-( Yeah, I know that my thigh fat isn't the boot maker's fault! LOL The suede is very good quality; thick and soft and the boot is very comfortable on your foot, VERY true to size and not pinching your toes at all (pretty rare for my wide feet!) The heel is just right for walking around all day, not too high (about 3"), yet totally freakin' stylish. However, the placement of the highest buckle was placed right where my knee bent, making it slightly uncomfortable in that respect. The good news: I also bought a pair of boots in the Naughty Monkey "JUGGS" style (same price) and found them to be more comfortable when walking and they also rest a little lower on the leg to get some of the skinnier part of your thigh to show. They are both absolutely great boots for 51.98 and DEFINITELY the nicest boots I have ever purchased. I think off all the crappy 39.99 vinyl ones I have purchased over the years from the mall and wish I knew about these sooner. I will be buying Naughty Monkey from now on (whenever they are on sale!) I would say these boots ARE worth 120-130 bucks if you aren't on a budget.

I got these in brown. They are a buttery-soft, thick suede. The color is beautiful and the buckles add the perfect amount of visual interest. They are a very classy over-the-knee boot and they stay up. I wear a 7.5 in most shoes and that is what I ordered. They fit true to size. The little wedge heel is perfect. I am 5'4" tall and most over-the-knee boots hit JUST above my knee. These do go up to mid-thigh. I found you can fold them in for a different slightly shorter look. I treat all my suede shoes immediately with Ugg Suede Protector and all my suede stays looking gorgeous. I highly recommend!

Love these boots. Fit is perfect and suede leather is beautiful. Heel was just right..not too high but still really sexy. They came over my knee and up to my lower thigh area. They did not fall down while wearing. They were completly comfortable and were flexible when sitting and bending my knees. Definitely a great purchase for an over the knee boot. Really sexy!

Finally! I have found the perfect OTK boot! I'm about 5'7 1/2" and this pair is just perfect on me. It stays above the knees (about 3 in above), not like the other ones I have that scrunch down when you walk and are more expensive! Love the buckle accent too! Perfect for any type of outfit (well not for pajamas ha ha ha). It is true to size, not like others that you have to order a size bigger. I am happy with this purchase!

These boots fit fantastic, they're sexy and slimming but since the heel is lower you don't take the risk of breaking your ankles or falling and making a complete fool of yourself! ;P They are great quality and a very soft suede/velvety feel but I'd say they are more for Winter and Fall and maybe chilly Spring days. There is plenty of room in them (I'm not exactly a tiny girl) so I can actually wear them OVER skinny jeans and still have room in them around my thighs. I definitely recommend these!!

This boot is oh so sexy! It's a head-turner and looks awesome with a short flowy dress or paired with a mini skirt or shorts (don't forget leggings!). The suede is really nice quality and the shoe itself is not difficult to put on a take off. Since the heel is low, you can pretty much walk in them all day! I bought half a size bigger than what I normally wear and added a pair of shoe inserts for added comfort. I would highly recommend them to anyone whose considering buying them. Just beware that they go quite a ways up your thigh!!

These boot are very comfortable, they feel good to walk in and are true to size. I love the soft feel of the seude and the way they kinda scrunch up a little. They are definitely over the knee boots, I am 5 ft 8 with long legs so I thought they would be a little shorter on me but they weren't. Very cute boots - Womens Boot - Faux Suede - Boots - Naughty Monkey'

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Windshield Repair - fix-a-windshiel, glass repair

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I concur with the other reviewers that one should read the instructions well before attempting the repair.



I used the repair kit to repair one 1.5 inch diameter star-burst and two small nick/chips - one of which was in driving view.



I ensured the car was in the shade and cleaned out the crushed glass out of the rock impact area with the included blade. I cleaned the repair area with soap water and a glass cleaner till it was squeaky clean.



I secured the repair assembly, with the 4 (good quality!) suction cups, to the windshield centering the housing over the rock impact area. I screwed in the resin delivery tube into the housing till it's rubber tip was flush with the windshield and centered to the damage area. I then added a few drops of resin (is same consistency as 3-in-1 oil) into the delivery tube and finally inserted the pressure tube which forces the resin into the crack by opening the rubber tip. I let it cure for about 10 minutes after which I placed a drop of resin on the center of the crack and placed the clear plastic sheet on it and put the windshield in direct sunlight - waited another 10 minutes and removed the plastic sheet. I scraped the excess resin with the blade.



I was very happy with the results - the damaged area, filled in with the resin, was see-through, not smoky like I have seen other windshield repairs. The cracks filled to the extent that the crack was accessible. The resin could not repair a "fracture" as there is no way for the resin to reach in between the fracture. The resin did obliterate the crack lines where it did reach.



The end result is that the star-burst is still there but less visible, both the nicks/chips are reduced significantly (90%+) and I can make them out only because I know where they are. The one in my driving view looks like a small pit instead of a chip. The only thing I am waiting for, this winter, is to see if the resin holds up to the heating/cooling.



It took me about 1 hour to repair all three areas.



The product is designed thoughtfully and is effective. The quality of materials is good. The really great thing about this product is the fact that the resin cleaned off with soap/water and did not harden on the skin. I could clean out the delivery and pressure tubes which means that they can be re-used......there is enough resin/plastic sheets left to repair a few more cracks.



DON'T use more that a few drops of resin...a little goes a long way!



I gave one-less star for false advertising. The company surely knows that fractures in glass cannot be repaired and should not advertise an "after" photo which shows a windshield with no hint of having been damaged. Fix-A-Flat - Fix-A-Windshield, Do-It-Yourself Windshield Repair Kit (161890)

My windshield got hit by a flying rock while driving on the freeway, causing a spider-web type crack structure. The crack did not extend through to the inside, but the web-like flaws extended over about a 1-inch circle. After using Fix-A-Windshield, the web-like structure no longer shows, and the fix-it material blends in nicely with the windshield. You need to look closely to notice any difference between the repair material and the original windshield. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, but you don't need to be a fix-it type person to effectively use this product.

Provided that you read (and follow) the directions, this product did a very good job at fixing a medium-sized star crack. You do need to be patient while waiting for the compound to flow into the cracks. The whole process took about an hour to complete.



Plus, there is enough in the kit for several repairs.

The xB is a perfect car except its box windshield that loves rocks. I don't want to buy comprehensive insurance to cover the windshield and I don't want to pay $50 for each and every hit. This "fix a windshield" comes to rescue.



I compared this kit with those professional kits that cost $$$$. The only difference I can see is plastic vs. metal. So, this kit is indeed professional, no kidding. As most of us here don't repair rock chips for a living, only once or twice a year, the plastic is all fine.



As others have pointed out, the key to success is the contact between the resin chamber and the windshield. How to manage it correctly? "Screw down the resin chamber so the rubber mouth is flat against the windshield, in complete, but gentle, contact with the glass"..."If the resin leaks out of the bottom of the resin chamber, gently turn the resin chamber clockwise". So the perfect tweak is: set it loose enough to leak a little bit and then tighten it a little bit.



In order to help the resin flow into the breaks, I use a small hot water bag to warm up the other side. A camera triangle is ideal to support the bag. I use a food thermo to check its temperature (don't be too hot).



How to ensure a good fill before we cure the resin? "Unrepaired areas will appear as dark (green or black) areas." This is another key part. After a good fill, the green or dark breaks are all gone, they now look thinner than hair.



The last key step is to use a good blacklight to cure the resin. Don't waste time to look for an UV tube. They are hard to find, expensive and difficult to use. Even if you find one, it might not be the right band. The easy-to-find blacklights emit exactly the UV-A rays (around 360nm) that this resin is designed for. A new energy-save compact fluorescent blacklight bulb is only $6 or so, can be found in many local stores and can be easily used in standard incandescent fixtures. For long crack repair, I might get a under-cabinate blacklight (12" or 18" tube) for about $20. Sunlight is as hard to see as gold in my area, especially in winter.



The repaired area is still recognizable, but not so easy to. It looks much better than I expected, even better than those on my wife's car, which were done by professional glass shops. I must admit that I'm a top-class DIYer, but still you've got the point. I got the rock chip on the way to pick up my son from his music class. As soon as he got into the car, he pointed his finger to that spot and shouted "look here!". My wife never saw it; I asked her to find it after I repaired it and it took her quite a while. She may never notice it if I had not told her about it. Yes, this kit is that good.



To make it as invisible as possible, I followed the instruction to add one more drop of resin right on the chip and scrape the resin "from" (?) the chip. After curing, this final touch removed all the rough white stuff, smoothed out the spot and blended it into the same color as the surrounding area. Now nobody can notice it unless I show him/her where to look at.



Please keep in mind, the key point about rock chips is: they expand and eventually crack the whole windshield if not repaired. This is the main reason for us to fix it ASAP. It is not all about a perfect mended look. When I look at my work, I'm very sure it won't go worse because all the breaks have been sealed very well. All I can see now is some white, no more those green or black I saw that meant moisture and air that would cause future crack under uneven heat. Problem solved, peace of mind.



Although the Permatex kit has not got good reviews here, there is a training video on its web site, well worth of watching. You can get a very good understanding about what you'll be doing with these kits. I sincerely wish "fix a windshield" publish such a video as well.



I have uploaded some photos about the before and after, and more:



picasaweb dot google dot com/fixup77/Faw



This $10 kit can be used for many more times, I wish this company will sell us the resin separately. Such repair is a good way for me to help my friends and neighbors.



From now on, I'm no longer afraid of those big rigs passing by. Peace of driving. Oh yeah, nothing beats the xB, especially now I can easily wipe out the kisses on its face.



Update[02/23/2008]: Today I hit lottery again, actually 2 hits one stone within 3 mm. I used the same kit left from the last time. I injected twice to the two spots, respectively, and then cured both at the same time with one film. After that, I applied two drops again (one on each) to mind the dents for the final touch.



This time I did a better job (more invisible), consumed much less resin (3 drops + 1 small + 1 small for each spot, 10 drops total) and spent less time. Man, I don't know why this xB loves rocks so much. I cannot imagine how could I drive this thing if without this great repair kit. - Automotive - Fix-a-windshiel - Glass Repair - Windshield'

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Planer Accessories - woodworking, planer accessories

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I have a Delta planer and have been dreading changing the blades, but after a couple of nicks, there was no more putting it off. I found a web site by John Lucas that showed him using the mini-planer pals to change the blades on a very similar planer to mine. The Delta instruction manual was a little skimpy on detail, but those pictures gave me the confidence I needed. Between the pix and the planer pal, I had my blades changed in about 20 minutes, start-to-finish. I was able to get the blades perfectly aligned the first time. Without the planer pal, that planer might still be in pieces. If they charged twice as much, it would still be worth every penny. If you have a planer, you really need this product! Woodstock W1226 Mini-Planer Pal, Pair

I purchased this product because I was not pleased using the device provided with my Delta planer. This device makes it so much easier to align the blades and only takes a couple of minutes to properly align the blades. I expect I will also be able to use this on my 6" jointer when I replace those blades.

I was dreading pulling the knives out of my Delta portable planer but the cut quality was just too rough. After considering buying another copy of the Delta knife setting jig that came with the planer (the original was lost) I decided to try this little Planer Pal as it was cheaper and well reviewed. I am SO glad I tried the Planer Pal. It took all of 5 minutes to get my knives set perfectly with this great little tool. I found it to be well made and cleverly designed. It is actually 2 tough little plastic brackets with 4 positioning magnets that hold it to the cutterhead while a 5th magnet holds the knife at the correct depth. One bracket goes at each end of the cutterhead with a locating pin that positions each Pal correctly in the knife slot. The bolt heads are easily accessible so you can cinch them down while the Pals hold the knife in place. It takes less time to do than it does to write about it. I won't be at all hesitant to sharpen my knives from now on, knowing I have this little gem handy to set them perfectly.

I bought these to use with my Delta shopmaster tp305. THEY WILL NOT WORK WITH THIS PLANER. The way the cutter head is set up, the planer pals are useless. I gave them a good review because I have used them with other planers and they have always worked great.

Fast, accurate, easy to use. Took only about 15 minutes to change blades with these. The blade setting jig that came with my Delta planer is a joke, inaccurate, will not stay in position. The mini planer pals stayed put and holds the blade very securely.

I also have a Delta planer( with lost setting fixture for the blades) that desperately needed to have the blades changed. I got this product, and very quickly and reliably was able to reinstall a set of blades. It is very carefully designed to allow you to place new blades in the cutterhead ACCURATELY. I would highly recommend this product. The only misgiving I have about it is that one of the magnets came out of the fixture on first use, but I pressed it back into place and continued to do the blade installation. - Planer Accessories - Woodworking'

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Cycling - pads

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These were easier to install than I expected and provide stronger grab than my original equipment Aztec brakes. However, I noticed after one commute in the rain that they were dramatically less powerful when wet, whereas my originals were still quite effective in the wet stuff.



Still, a good value for the money, just ride aware of the wet performance issue. Promax V-brake Pad W/thread

Perfect fit for my bike. They seem to last just as long if not longer than the older style brakes. Just make sure this is the kind of brake that your bicycle needs before buying them. Seems to be made well and fit many types of bikes that use this brake pad.

Replacing my old brakes took less than 5 minutes. These come with bolts and screws so you just need a star-wrench multi-tool set and you're away laughing.



The braking power is impressive. Would purchase again.

These have fine stopping power, but I rode in the rain today and they squealed at a level I have never encountered before. These will wake the whole neighborhood in the morning. I'll tolerate some noise, but this was truly unbelievable.



I put a set of Aztec2's on the back and they were totally silent.

These are really good brakes, you can really feel the differnece in stopping power that these brakes have. I havn't used them when my wheels were wet though, so I don't know how they work then. But otherwise I have had no problems with them. - Pads'

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Camera Case - business, photography

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I think this is a really good durable case. However, I think that it would be a plus if they put the rollers a little farther to provide a little bit more stabitlity when pulling the case. I am very pleased with the case. It takes a good amout of planning to figure out what squares to pull out for your items, however once you get the idea of what you want it goes by quickly. There really aren't any other sub $200 cases that are comparable. I am very pleased! Vanguard VGP-300W Digital Camera Hard Case

I use the plane alot and this item protects my valuable equip

so I don't have to worry about them. I take pictures of little league ball games and I don't have to worry about the equipt at

all. It is also very easily made mobile with the handle and wheels. I MUST HAVE SPENT TWO DAYS LOOKING UP THE CORRECT CASE FOR ME AND THIS IS THE ONE I decided ON. MEC

In my business as a field investigator I needed a case to protect my equipment and this is perfect. Lightweight yet hard sided with many ways to carry - either by shoulder strap, handle or roller. The perferrated foam was perfect for quick set ups of my gear. Highly recommended.

I have a small wedding video business, and carry three video cameras, one still camera and assorted accessories. This case is large enough to accommodate all of my equipment, and small enough that it is not obtrusive or unwieldy. Since it rolls, I can also bungee up to three tripods to it, as well. Very happy with this product.

The VGP-300W is a great case for those in need of space. I used this case as a custom mobile computer case. I removed all foam inserts and mounted all my computer parts inside with plexiglass as seperation between compartments. I was able to mount a 21 inch flat panel to the lid of the case with no problems. The case was suprisingly rigid even after all the modifications I made. I was worried the weight of the monitor would break the joint holding the lid but it had lasted for 4 months before I removed my computer from the case(Upgraded to water cool system). The only complaint I have about the case would be the plastic/cardboard sidings. I wish there was at least a layer of sheet metal to make the case even more rigid. Of course since this is a camera case the actual weight of the equipment would not be as much as a full size computer (final weight of the case with computer was 50lbs). Overall great product.

What an outstanding case! I am not using this as a camera case but I have converted it into a product demonstration case for our handsfree car-kits and cradles that we distribute. We have used many cases for product demos but I must say that this is one of the best I have ever used. This case has a great design, is sturdy and lightweight. We could not be happier with this case. I highly recommend this case to anyone who transports camera equipment or stores product etc...

I really enjoy this case. I use the partitions and not the pluck foam since I'm always changing out my gear, but I was able to fit two full bodies (2 Canon 5Ds) and 4 lenses (mostly smaller primes but one larger zoom). Along with all of my chargers, spare batteries, 2 flashes, diffusers, pocket wizards, etc. Everything fits great! It is also the perfect size for airplane overhead bins and has been my companion on many flights. I would absolutely LOVE this case and give it 5 Stars except...



After about 6 months of use one of the wheels got jammed. I was on a job and dragging it around and didn't have time to stop and fix it so I just tried tilting it on the good wheel or carry it. When I finally got time to fix it a bit of rubber inside of the wheel had come loose and was jammed between the wheel and the spoke. I had to spend 20 minutes prying it over with a screw driver to free the wheel and remove the bit of rubber. And by this point the wheel had been worn on one side. Now whenever I drag it around it makes a noise like it's being dragged over cracks on the ground when there are none. Can be very embarrassing in airports and I can no longer move it in the middle of a wedding ceremony by the wheels because it's too loud. So PLEASE check your wheels frequently, and carry a screwdriver with you if you want to keep this case looking and working 100%.

This case is great. I have not one complaint, other than the locks being on the cheap side...but for this low price...you have to expect that. Even the locks on the expensive ones are cheap. The case is rugged, looks great, and holds all of my equipment. I make a tv show at college, and this thing has made it so much easier to move things around. I would buy another one if I could fill it. - Business - Photography - Digital Slr - Rolling'

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Good Product - portable, good product

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Great portable stand. In my opinion, the item description nails it. It is very portable when folded up; can be easily tossed in a drawer or bag. It held my iPad perfectly while in its case and is sturdy enough to operate. It didn't slide around the counter tops and is adjustable for different viewing angles. It pretty much suits all of my requirements. However, my one minor complaint is that when the iPad is sitting vertically in the mount and the charging cable is plugged in, the cable interferes with the stability of the iPad. In other words, if the mount held the iPad maybe just a half-inch higher off the surface, the plug wouldn't be a problem. Horizontally is of course no problem. I personally don't find this to be an issue as I seldom have it plugged in when I'm using it anyway. Arkon Portable Fold-Up Stand for Apple iPad, Galaxy Tab, BlackBerry Play Book

This stand is great. I take it with me everywhere my iPad goes. The stand is very compact and portable. When folded, it is small enough to fit with my iPad in a 10.2" net book sleeve. The stand adjusts to every angle you could want for both portrait and landscape use. It's great when resting it on a pillow while lying in bed or for placing on a lap desk. At night, I use this on my night stand to charge the iPad while it displays my night stand app and plays my audiobook. When reading, I put the iPad in this stand and sit and read in landscape mode. When I want to lie down and read, I lock the iPad in portrait mode, put it horizontally in this stand and lie down one my side to read the book 'sideways'. In the kitchen, it it my iPad cookbook stand. I am very happy I bought this. The iPad is stable and safe in the stand. It fits great, even with a clear protective case on the iPad. The only issue I have is that the charger will not fit with this in portrait mode. The stand is too low to the ground. However, this can be remedied by turning the iPad so the charger is on top. Very happy with my purchase. Would buy again!

Pros:



1. Folds down to a size akin to that of an eyeglasses case - an ideal size for carrying and travel.

2. Very light - perfect for carrying and travel.

3. Very sturdy when used (with iPad) on a clean, hard surface. The grips on the feet of this stand keep it stationary, and the stand does not move when I poke my iPad. I also own a leatherette iPad case/stand (it holds an iPad horizontally at adjustable angles), and it tends to move a lot when I use it as a stand on a hard surface and poke my iPad. The Arkon stand doesn't move at all.

4. Elegant design suitable for casual and professional use/occasions.

5. Practical design: The screws and nuts that hold the moving parts together are user-accessible (i.e., a user could tighten if necessary), and adjustments in angle are made via a kind of ratchet system (albeit plastic). I'd expected an adjustment system dependent on friction, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the Arkon stand uses what I'm describing as a ratchet-type system, because I would expect a system that depends on friction to loosen over time much faster than I think the ratchet-type system the Arkon stand actually uses will.



Cons:



1. As other reviewers have noted, when using the stand with an iPad, if you want to position the iPad vertically with the iPad's home button on the bottom, you will not be able to have the charger cord that comes with the iPad plugged in. This is hardly a deal-breaker, as you can always have the home button/charger port at the top if you must have the iPad charger cord plugged in (for use with the A/C adapter or with USB), and if you use the stand to hold an iPad horizontally, having the charger cord plugged in will be no problem. However, if you use the stand to hold an iPad vertically with the home button on top so you can use the charging port, you will not be able to use the audio out jack, because that will be on the bottom.



There are rubbery pads on the feet of the stand, and on the parts of the stand that touch the face of the iPad or whatever unit you use the stand to hold. I assume they are held in place with glue and may eventually come loose, but I expect that should that happen, it will easy to re-glue them.



The price of this unit has been fluctuating since I discovered it in Amazon's listings (visit camelcamelcamel and enter a product name or ASIN, etc., to see a chart of the item's price history at Amazon and by third-party sellers), but even at full list price it is a fair deal considering how overpriced so many (I'd say most) accessories for the iPad (and similar products) tend to be.



If you need an iPad stand - for use at home (dining table, nightstand, coffee table, etc.), at a cafe, on a desktop at work or in a school, etc. - you can pay more than you'll pay for the Arkon, but I doubt you'll find a better combination of form and function.



Highly recommended.

I wasn't too sure when I ordered this, but I really love this little stand. It holds the tablet very well; it doesn't seem to slip or feel like the tablet is going to fall off, even when typing on the screen. In order to attach the power connector to the XOOM, you have to put it at a very low viewing angle, or (and this is probably what most would do) just flip the XOOM upside down. Just keep in mind the headphone jack will be on the bottom if you do that. Either way should accommodate almost every situation. I had low expectations for this thing being so cheap, but it's terrific! One thing I didn't "get" until I received the stand was that the hinges click into position at specific spots (every couple of degrees), so it's not like it's just a stiff joint that you can put at infinite angles. The way it's designed is better, imho, as it will probably last better.

This is a great stand. It is compact, rubberized in the right places so it does not slip, adjustable for multiple angles depending on the situation or condition. It is priced well. Highly recommend 5 star in my mind. - Portable - Good Product - Ipad - Travel'

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Books About Music - books about music, discographies

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Hi Oxwood. Thank you for taking the time to comment on the book. As one of its co-editors, I'll try to address your points.



- Instrumentals were omitted to narrow the millions of choices. It's not a decision I necessarily support, but there was a rationale behind it.



- The index - while unconventional - is perfectly comprehensible, and the arranging of artists by first initials will be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with iTunes.



- While I wouldn't dispute the worth of The Allman Brothers, they weren't a big deal in Britain (where the book was produced), so I'm afraid they didn't make the shortlist. (However, our US publishers didn't suggest them either.)



- The ten artists that you've highlighted are all represented in the book; some with, in our view, more interesting choices from the same album (e.g. "War Pigs," from Paranoid, "When the Levee Breaks," from Led Zeppelin IV, and "Bring the Noise" from It Takes A Nation of Millions...).



- I take full responsibility for including "Amazing" and not campaigning for "Dream On." As a long-time Aerosmith fan, I think "Amazing" is a much better song!



- Inevitably, given the millions of available choices, we were never going to satisfy every reader. However, as the book ranges from commercial smashes to cult hits, and from Mississippi to Mali, there's plenty to discover. I would urge you to listen to Elvis Presley's "Tomorrow is a Long Time" and Oumou Sangare's "Diaraby Nene" - both featured in the book, and both songs that I'm very happy to have heard before I die!



As I said, thank you for taking the time to comment, and I hope you find something of value in the book.



best wishes,

Bruno MacDonald 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die: And 10,001 You Must Download

This book has a similar look and feel for those familiar with 1001 Albums with great pictures, nice format and layout, and interesting song and artist background. I found this to be a great resource for (re-)exploring both well known songs and lesser known nuggets. The selections cover a broad range of periods and styles. Many are obvious choices such as Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.



I'd caution against expecting either the 1001 or "10,001 to Download" to be a definitive "best" song list. The variety of editors bring some great choices together, however such a task is just not possible, nor the intent, but this does mean that you will find some expected songs missing. Not making either list includes some of my personal favorites from Michael Jackson (Billie Jean), the Rolling Stones (Gimme Shelter), though about 30 Stones' songs make the 10,001, or Allman Brothers (Midnight Rider), or Joy Division (New Dawn Fades), while room for five Spice Girls songs on the 10,001 seemed generous in this context.



All in all, this doesn't knock it down from 5-stars for me, I know and listen to the songs I like without this book, but it gives me plenty to explore and enjoy, which is just what I had hoped for.

All the Young Dudes," "Rock Lobster," "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and about 998 more. It's been five years since Robert Dimery compiled the collection "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and now with the music world returning to its roots as a singles based medium, it's a perfect time for this series to surface the best songs of all time.



This completely subjective report (as Dimery gladly admits) is a veritable jukebox in book form. Spanning the decades from the pre-50's to the 00's, Dimery and his contributors have compiled a list ranging from the obvious (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.) to the obscure (Captain Beefheart's "Big Eyed Beans from Venus") to hundreds of musical slices in between.



Each of the selections are accompanied by a story of the history, the behind the scenes and/or the influence the song had on others. In addition to full credits, there are boxes on certain entries that indicate cover versions and which songs influenced which others. In all cases, the original releases provide the template, with later credits (samples, etc) added where appropriate. There is also an intro by famed Bowie producer, Tony Visconti.



The book concludes with a list of 10,000 songs (listings only) that you must download before you die. Though the book has a bit of an international lean in places (many songs from the UK, France, Africa, etc. are simply unknown in the states) it serves as both a treasure trove of great songs you may have forgotten from the past, as well as a jumping off point for a wide berth of new musical territory to explore for quite a while. Pure fun.

I bought this book for my son because he's a music lover and I thought he'd enjoy it. He thought it was such a great gift idea, he bought one as a gift also. It's been a real hit! I'm glad I bought it.

This gift was a surprise for my husband and he hasn't put it down since. He LOVES the backstory on the songs, the writers and the musicians especially and now wants to look at others from the series 1001....

This is a large, fun reference book that you can open anywhere and read something interesting. Beginning with the 1920's and ending with 2010, this survey tries to be many things to many people, and it partially succeeds. It was designed and produced in England, so if you're a North American reader you may not be familiar with many of the artists, which include non-English speakers. But that's a selling point. Go to YouTube, open the index at random and start listening. In no time you will have discovered music you would never have encountered otherwise, because it's after or before your time, or comes from another country.



Some of what you hear you'll like a lot, while some of it will make you wonder what the authors were smoking. But then, that's the nature of "best of" collections. For sure, you will be annoyed by the omission of some of your personal favorites. I found many such omissions. Here's just one as an example: there is mention of only one song by Hall & Oates, in the "music to download" index, and that song is an obscure, just-okay tune called "I Don't Wanna Lose You." Considering that Hall & Oates is the best selling duo of all time, they could have worked a little harder to include several of their gigantic hits (my favorite would be "She's Gone," although "One on One," "Private Eyes," "Rich Girl," "Sara Smile," "Wait for Me," "Method of Modern Love," etc. etc. would have been fine too).



Another glaring failure is the paltry representation of vocal harmony groups (doo-wop) in the 1950's section. With the exception of a few standouts, e.g., "Blue Moon" by the Marcels, this genre is almost entirely missing. Maybe doo wop wasn't big in England, I don't know. But any best-of music survey that covers the 1950's and leaves out the Spaniels, the Five Satins, the Channels, etc. is just incomplete. Also there's a preponderance of songs and artists that have come to prominence in the past decade, many of whom I believe will not stand the test of time. This is understandable, but makes the choices less credible. On the other hand, if you're like me and not particularly impressed with the direction of pop music in general in the 2000's, you will find that things are not as bad as you thought, and your range will be expanded.



To be fair, the authors cover much of the great stuff, and often they get it just right. Included in the "1001 songs you must hear before you die" are some great but obscure tunes like "Piss Factory" by Patti Smith and "River Song" by Dennis Wilson. Overall, this is an eclectic collection, covering not just rock and pop but standards (Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole, Ella Fitzgerald) and country (Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash) as well.



Yes. Many of your favorite artists and/or songs will be missing. How could they not be? Just don't take the title too seriously, and you'll get a lot of pleasure from discovering new artists and songs and learning some back story about those performers and songs you already know and love. - Books About Music - Discographies - Downloads - Music History'

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