Crafts For Kids

Visit Store Now !!

I am a working mom with a very active 2.5 year old and a husband who travels >50% time. This means even though I consider myself creative, I appreciate the ability to whip out a pre-packaged craft project that engages my little one without a) pre-planning/looking up ideas online; b) taking her to buy supplies (in small quantities) for similar projects; c) any consideration of weather or time of the day. Sure, there will be parents out there who take a look at the content and think it's nothing special. Well, I have two comments: 1) many of us wouldn't consider most activities for a 2-3 year old special but they are nevertheless fun and age-appropriate. 2) When my brain is fried from work but I'd rather not park my kid in front of the TV so that I can decompress, this is a fun way to spend time with my little one.



Price wise, I consider Amazon's price reasonable. I probably would have to spend more if I gather the supplies myself and would have the hassle of dealing with all the leftovers.



Personal reasons and pricing aside, I am actually quite impressed with the quality of the stuff inside. The quantity for each project is either good or on the generous side. Everything is bright/colorful and printed on quality paper. The projects create surprisingly little or no mess. All age appropriate -- some clearly require a longer attention span than my kid has or greater dexterity. That's ok; I help her with some stuff or let her finish the project in a couple of sittings. I can also try to challenge her, making up related stories/asking her decoration preferences while we do these projects and encourage her to keep at it a little longer to expand her attention span. These projects would work best for 2.5-4 year olds. I like the individual packaging for most of the projects. That way, I can efficiently take one out at a time w/o letting my kid sees the rest and get distracted.



There are only two things that I would change: the box came with just one instruction sheet that shows how some of the projects are put together. For those of us who like reading instruction manuals, the only way to get an idea of what the final product look like are the images on the big box. Like I said, my kid gets distracted and wants whatever she sees, so I would have preferred not to have the box in front of her (albeit with all the content removed) while we do a project. Second, I noticed that I did not get one of the projects pictured on the box but something else of the same type of activity. That's kind of a disappointment because I really like the fish tissue art instead of a star tissue art; plus, I believe in you-buy-what-you-see. I don't know how frequently Alex products make substitutions like this.



This was a worthwhile investment. I love seeing my kid getting so excited during and after finishing a project. So proud and eager to hang up her latest masterwork! Alex Toys My Giant Busy Box

My 5 year old daughter just got this craft box for her birthday, what a great gift! She sat down and did the craft projects on her own for hours. You can look at the box for ideas on how things should look OR just do what you want and be creative. All the projects are wrapped separately so you can hand out one at a time if you want. She was so proud when she was done to show us what she made. This is an excellent gift for kids who like to do/create things rather than just playing with toys. We will be buying more of these items for Christmas gifts. Very little mess to boot.

this art supply/project box was part of an arts present for my 3 children, and they all absolutely loved this project box. their was something for each of them to do on their own, and together. there are so many fun things to do with all the supplies, and my kids even get along and work together on making fun things. ages 7,4,and 3.

I love this little busy box! My daughter (2 1/2)and I will have hours of fun. This was actually the first thing that has kept her attention for over 1 hour. I'll let her play with the items in the box while I cook and she is totally engrossed in what she is doing. She makes the funniest things from this box. But, I love that it helps with her creativity and imagination. This has become a favorite birthday present for me to give to her little friends.

I bought this for my daughter for her 6th birthday. she loves to do arts and crafts and I thought this would give her some new things to do. She loves it! The projects are all easy enough that she can do them on her own. Very colorful and creative. Love this box of crafty stuff!

For those of us that love to do craft projects but don't have the creatiivity or patience come up with our own, then this is perfect! It's great for a rainy day, travel, scorching summer days or that time before bedtime where you want a quiet activity. I definitely suggest that for everyone.

we got this as a gift for a 3 year old girl. her mother indicated that she completed the entire set the weekend after her birthday in which it rained the whole weekend and couldn't go outside. she loved it.



so, i suppose i'd recommend it for a birthday gift! when my kids get old enough, i'll probably buy them one!

The main good part of this toy is that most projects are individually wrapped. So, if you have more than one kids, they are not fighting for the same thing! The not so good part is that there is only one glue stik which is humungous!

Could have better items....too pricey for the amount of stuff in it...which could have been bought for a fraction of the cost of this box!'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Crafts For Kids Crafts For Kids Crafts For Kids

Bluetooth Receiver

Visit Store Now !!

I've read a number of reviews that have stated this receiver produced poor sound quality. Let's clear that up right now: This little guy sounds great! The fidelity is more than acceptable for 98% of people who will use it. I have a couple of friends who are audiophiles that griped a little bit but said they would have no problem listening to music through this on a regular basis. But my speaker system cost me about $1000 though and theirs cost about $6-10,000. If you're more like me then you'll like the quality of this device. If you're more like them, go for the Sonos and drop the extra cash. But generally speaking, trust me, this sound quality is great!



HOWEVER!!! I mainly purchased this so I could stream music from my Nexus One (Android phone) through my speakers in the living room while I was in the kitchen cooking (where I spend most of my time). I do not live in a big house and there is line of sight between the stove and the TV - probably a 20 foot distance. At that distance this thing will drop in and out a lot!!! Someone doesn't even need to block the line of sight, they just need to be near the device and it somehow interferes with the music. When I move it even close (say, 10 feet?) still if someone comes between my phone and the receiver it will drop the music. The best luck I've had so far is to leave my phone in a corner where I know no one will walk between the two. But that defeats the whole purpose of why I bought this. I'm going to experiment a bit and see if I can find a more suitable placement to get better results and I'll let everyone know if I find any worth sharing. NEW Version Belkin F8Z492-P Bluetooth Music Receiver

I'm pretty happy with this device although it the transmission is sensitive.

I wanted to use it in my vehicle as well without having to plug the device into a power inverter.

I already had a Belkin USB lighter adapter, so I went to the local gadget store (The Source) and bought an iGo USB charging cable and an iGo Power tip that matched the Belkin bluetooth receiver. It worked great but will cost you about $20 for the cable and cable power tip adapter, as well as a USB lighter adapter if you don't already have one.

The iGo power tip I bought was Samsung A740,A840,A920,SCP-7050,SCP3100



Link:

[...]



Standard USB output is the 5 volts (+/- .25v) the Belkin requires. I was told that the Belkin will take the amps it needs, up to the usb limit of .500 and the Belkin only uses .180 amps

So far it's worked great and the device seems fine, but anyone else who wants to try this is taking their own chances...I am not responsible for any damages.

Purchased this item to connect my iPad with my home stereo for playing my music, Pandora, etc. Was a little concerned by the reviews indicating range/interference issues, but I have had consistently great results. I connected it to my stereo, powered it up, and my iPad found and connected to it without any trouble. Have used it for several weeks now with no issues.

I got this product because I wanted a way to connect my iPhone 4 to my home stereo, much like an Airport Express, but in a way that would play any and all audio coming out of my iPhone. (My stereo is a Yamaha receiver/amp plus Paradigm speakers. I play music through it using an Airport Express, and I'm perfectly happy with the sound quality, but it probably wouldn't pass muster with an audiophile.)



Before buying this product, I read the reviews about sound quality, and as might be expected, there were varying opinions. Some said sound quality was horrible, while others said sound quality was pretty good as long as you're not an audiophile. I figured the only way to find out for myself was to buy one.



I have an Airport Express set up, so I've been able to do a direct comparison between the sound quality of the Airport Express vs. the Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver, using the same music coming from my iPhone. Also, I tested with my iPhone within three unobstructed feet of the Bluetooth receiver, so that signal strength wouldn't be an issue.



In my opinion, the issue is not so much about sound QUALITY as it is about sound LEVELS. With the Airport Express, audio gets transmitted at fairly even levels, and the sound is crisp and clean and reproduced accurately. But with the Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver, the bass gets amplified way up and the treble way down, and the sound comes across as muddy, distorted, and "clipped".



I discovered that I could compensate for this by turning my stereo's bass all the way down and its treble all the way up. At this point, the sound quality is MUCH better, and it begins to approach the clarity and quality of that coming through my Airport Express (though it's still fairly obvious that it's not as good).



What this product needs is a graphic equalizer app for the iPhone that can be set for the bluetooth transmission only. (Perhaps an app like that already exists? I couldn't find one. The EQ for the iPod app does not make much of an impact.) If you could control the levels getting transmitted, you could compensate for the bass-heavy lopsidedness, and it would probably sound much better to most people.



But as it is now, every time I want to play music through bluetooth, I will have to get up and adjust my stereo's levels, and then of course remember to adjust them back. In my opinion, that negates the convenience factor of having a wireless bluetooth connection. Hence the low rating.

This device has great audio quality and terrible range (not what is claimed), but if you've already bought it you're in luck! There is a quick modification that can restore this device to the advertised range.



Modification Instructions (you'll need a small flat head screwdriver and a hot glue gun):

Pop the top off of it with the screwdriver starting at the ports.

Pull out the circuit board and you'll see a large piece of metal. This metal is entirely unnecessary and serves only to satisfy customers who innately feel that heavier is more valuable.

The piece of metal is held in place with double sided tape, so just pop it out.

Put the circuit board back in place (it should sort of snap in).

Put hot glue around the edge of the enclosure and put the top back in place.

Now this device conforms to all the specifications that Belkin specifies.



I hope this helps everyone out! I'm currently trying to resolve this with Belkin's support department.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Bluetooth Receiver Bluetooth Receiver Bluetooth Receiver

Weight Training - fitness, deadlift

Visit Store Now !!

Eric Cressey knows how to get people bigger and stronger, period. I got to do the Maximum Strength Program last summer and during that time I had my 1RM deadlift go from 275 to 400lbs in four months. I am more mobile than ever and I am no longer in pain (used to be low back). I now have great posture and have built a great base of strength.



This book outlines the four phases with multistep pictures of the exercises (both strength training and mobility/warm-up). Also there is a nice section dedicated towards nutrition as well.



Eric is 110% correct when he says you need to get stronger to get bigger. If you have stalled with your progress and want to get bigger and stronger, there is no better way then with Maximum Strength, for under $15 you can not go wrong. Maximum Strength: Get Your Strongest Body in 16 Weeks with the Ultimate Weight-Training Program

This book is a must-read. I heard a lot of hype about this book before purchasing, and I'm glad I finally bought it. I did the entire 4 month routine and honestly, my body feels better than it ever has in the past.



I was used to the traditional bodybuilding bodypart split of chest on Monday, legs on Tuesday, Arms on Wednesday, etc etc. For years, I just accepted that this was the way to train your body. I just dealt with back pain and shoulder pain as part of the "price of working out." Doing 5 exercises for your back in one day, and 5 exercises for your shoulders in one day is the absolute wrong way to train your body, unless you are an actual bodybuilder, but for the average fitness enthusiast, that just doesn't apply.



Eric's book outlines splitting your routines into upper body days and lower body days. The routines are easy to follow. Full detailed pictures, and explanations. One of the most important things he advocates is varying the rep range each week within the 4 week routine. You probably never have done any exercise of 8 sets of 2 reps or 10 sets of 3 reps. You have to keep in mind Eric is a Strength & Conditioning Coach with the goal of getting you stronger. I was hesitant, but you have to open your mind and try it.



My body feels stronger, and more balanced. There are a few non-traditional exercises that you probably have never heard of, or are hesitant to try out. My advice would be to do everything in the book to a T. It works. You may be reluctant to do so much deadlifting and squatting. You may have never hear of scapular push ups, walls slides, face pulls, or behind the neck band pull aparts. Open your mind. Follow the routines exactly and you will be glad you did. I know I am. Your body will feel so much stronger, more balanced, and your posture improves. I hope this doesn't sound like a 3 a.m info-mercial testimonial for the latest fitness product, because it's not. I'm a Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Gym Rat who has been lifting for 11 years. Open your mind, try the routines, follow to a T. Your body will thank you.

Eric Cressey delivers on his promise to get you stronger in 16 weeks. I know because as a former client I completed the Maximum Strength program and posted personal bests in all of my lifts. Which lifts? The ones that matter, that show true strength. Completing Maximum Strength, I would have been pleased if only my bench press numbers increased, and they did, but so did my deadlift, squat, and chin-up (my broad jump increased, too).



The 16-week program is not the only reason to buy "Maximum Strength." Eric does a phenomenal job of showing how to perform each exercise correctly, which a) eliminated bad habits I picked up in the past and b) keeps me injury free.



It's the old story of teaching the man how to fish: Eric provides a program that increases strength and sets a path to continue getting stronger after those 16 weeks. If you're serious about strength training, you need to read "Maximum Strength."

In Eric's introduction to this book, he describes his aspiration to be strong and fit, but not huge. The introduction alone is worth the price of the book. This is a man that deadlifted 650 lbs in competition at a body weight of 181. He knows how to get people strong, yet keep them healthy. His entire program is designed to progress in power, speed and absolute strength while addressing many commonly flawed movement patterns.



I'm a 47 year old male that has begun to find it difficult to move without pain and stiffness. I am now 9 weeks into the 16 week program and I have progressed to the point were my passive ROM in my joints has improved as well as my mobility. I haven't benched in 4 years due to shoulder pain and had all but conceded that I would never again be able to, but I'm now benching without pain. I just can't say enough positive things about this book and for the price is a steal.

A fine treatise on the fundamentals of strength. It is precise, well researched and innovative. Also, I really liked the voice of the book....casual and humorous but informative.



This guy is close to genius on the subject. A free thinker that backs his theorys with science. He draws heavily on research and builds his program from the fundamentals. That combination together with the innovative style makes a unique approach plausible and possibly the bible on the subject.

A great holistic approach to increasing strength. You get warm-ups with foam roller and mobility exercises, 4 day a week upper/lower body split routine, nutrition suggestions and even a chapter on the "muscle between your ears". I plan on finishing the 16 week routine by end of October and then repeating it next February.

I have a library of lifting and fitness books. You name it I have it.



This is the best book that I've seen in a long time. When I was a beginner and had no clue there may have been some books that added more immediate value, but for those people that have done some lifting and want to do it right, and make some serious improvements, THIS IS THE BOOK.



The explanations are great, as are the illustrations. I judge my purchases on whether it was worth my money, and this definitely gets 5 stars. - Strength - Weight Training - Deadlift - Fitness'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Weight Training - fitness, deadlift fitness Weight Training - fitness, deadlift

Drywall Sander - random-orbit sanders, dewalt

Visit Store Now !!

Let me start by saying that I have LOVED all my Dewalt tools. But, this sander sucks! At least the one I received. I have an eight year old DW 421 ROS that has served me well with my only complaints being the rubber sealed switch that has always been tempermental and it being underpowered. I have been shopping for a new ROS for a while now with variable speed and more power being two requirements. The highly rated Porter Cables never quite felt right in my hands and the Bosch sanders seemed to have too much vibration when in use. I was excited to see the ad about the new Dewalt sanders- bigger motor, cool new look, and it is a Dewalt!...I was on the list to receive one of the first ones. It finally came, it looked a little plasticy, but still cool. I plugged it in and turned it on (same lame sealed switch but not worn out like my old one) and the sander came to life- it had a wierd high pitched kazoo-like sound that had me concerned but I was going to see how it sounded in action. The variable speed control was really hard to turn, but I suspect that would get easier as it wears.



I put on a new 150 grit sheet and tested it out. It didn't feel good in my hands, the top was big and odd shaped. The high pitched vibration sound was still there. It sanded as well as my old sander but not better. I decided to do a three way comparison with my old DW421 2.0 amp, my friends Bosch 1295 DVS 2.2 amp, and the new D26453K. The Bosch had both Dewalts beat on build quality and power when sanding but without the CFS it just doesn't sand as well (I think what I'm sensing is consistent pad speed on and off the wood that the CFS provides for the Dewalts) The Bosch had more vibration than my old Dewalt but less than the new one.

The pad on the new Dewalt stalled as easily as my old one and as I previously mentioned I couldn't tell that this sander was more powerful. I could not rotate the variable speed switch with my thumb while operating it- too stiff. And that horrible sound!!

I'm sure I got a less than perfect copy, but I am still disappointed in Dewalt for either poor quality control or if they are all like that, for a sucky new ROS. DEWALT D26453K 3 Amp 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Kit with Cloth Dust Bag

I purchased this random-orbit sander to finish a huge porch. This machine is not heavy and is easy to use(I'm a retired woman). I was pleased with the results. There are no sand marks because of the random-orbit rotation. My son in law has borrowed it and likes it too. Before I bought this sander, I used a friends which was another brand. His was heavy and much harder to use. It is easy to go to one of the home building stores to get the replacement sand paper but cheaper to buy it on Amazon. I used this machine a lot and made the mistake of not changing the sandpaper one time and ruined the underneath side but was able to buy a replacement locally. This sander was shipped immediately and arrived in pristine condition. I think it does such a good job that I am planning to finish my dining room table with it.

This is a great sander. Much better than my Porter Cable. My only wish is that it would have a little longer cord. It doesn't hurt my hands to use this tool. I would buy it again. The dust collection system work great and is easy to clean out. A little comprssed air and the unit looks like new.

I purchased this sander to do edges and touch-up spots for restoring some hardwood floors. This job required hours of work, but the machine kept up with it quite handily. Even after over 3 hours of continuously using it, my hand was comfortable and the machine was cool to the touch. It did not clog once during the entire project both using the vacuum or just the bag.



If I were pressed to mention flaws, there are two that come to mind: the power switch and the vacuum adapter. The power switch is very finicky, both in that it is hard to quickly reliably switch power manually and that it is easy to accidentally switch power. The vacuum adapter is built in which is great, but it does not seem to hold the end of my vacuum (Ridgid WD4070 4 Gallon Portable Vacuum) very well on its own, relying on the suction of the vacuum to do the "fitting".

I purchased this sander to help out with drywall sanding of joint spackling compound in a townhouse remodel. It worked great for that purpose. You will need to detach the small dust bag that comes with the unit and attach the suction hose of a vacuum cleaner to it. Of all choices of vacuum cleaner I used a Rug Vacuum Cleaner - The Hoover Windtunnel Floor Upright. Albeit that vacuum cleaner didn't lead to the most convenience it was the only vacuum I had and it worked pretty well as long as you were patient to move the vacuum as you sanded. The dust was held down considerably with the vacuum attached. In my opinion, the sander was easy to control and the dust was vacuumed away sufficiently. Be careful to make sure the vacuum hose stays attached because the sander itself will spew the materials out the back all by itself. Since there is a lot of noise with both the sander and vacuum on at the same time you will have trouble hearing the hose come off. I had no problems with the ON/OFF switch or weight of the unit. It was a little heavy but it is also a very rugged model. Sandpaper for it is sold both at Home Depot and Loews. I'd by the economy pack to stock up. The carrying case it comes with can store the sandpaper. I had owned a square vibration sander prior to this one that shook my hands way too uncomfortably. This model is pretty smooth. It probably has a lot of uses other than drywall but if that's your purpose - it works great for that. I'm happy I purchased it. It was worth the cost to me. Good Luck.

I researched this tool for months. I finally met some folks who actually have this model as well as other brands in their shops. Everyone said they preferred the Dewalt. Overall feel of the machine and the work accomplished made the Dewalt their ROS of choice.

I bought one of my own. I totally agree! My first job was restoring an antique drop leaf table. (there so many layers of paint and dings, I wasn't sure there was even wood underneath.) The variable speed come in handy for fine sanding. I borrowed two other brands from my friends, they don't compare to the Dewalt. I would easily recommend this to anyone looking for a great ROS.

Old Guy - Sander - Dewalt - Random-orbit Sanders - Random Orbit Sander'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Drywall Sander - random-orbit sanders, dewalt random-orbit sanders Drywall Sander - random-orbit sanders, dewalt

High Definition - high definition, cyber shot

Visit Store Now !!

**Updated June 30, 2011**



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



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



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



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



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

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



Here goes...



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Pros:

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

* Beautiful camera design.

* The video is beautiful.

* Image quality***. (see above)

* Plenty of shooting modes to choose from.

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

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



Cons:

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

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

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

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

Side Notes:

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

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



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



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



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

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

High Definition - high definition, cyber shot digital camera High Definition - high definition, cyber shot

Kindle International - kindle international, kindle book

Visit Store Now !!

I'm a new Kindle 2 owner and I did not own a Kindle 1. I was very interested in the original Kindle, but had decided to wait for improvements based on customer feedback after it was released, especially the accidental page turning issue. Since it looked like they made the improvements I was waiting for (one of the others was a bit more free space on the case to hold it) I took the plunge and got the new one.



I thought I'd start with listing my reasons for getting the Kindle, since I think that can sometimes help others who are sitting on the fence to decide if it's for them or not.



* Storage. I'm out of shelf space and all the boxes of books do little to add to the ambience of my one bedroom apartment. On the rare occasions I want to read something again trying to find the book in all the boxes is an exercise in frustration.



* eInk technology. I love books and using an electronic gadget isn't the same experience. The new technology has eliminated that concern.



* Convenience. The Whispernet is great for when you need the next book in a series right away or want to stock up on a few before leaving on a trip. Being able to have several books stored in the Kindle to take along instead of having to pack an extra bag just for my books for a week's vacation is a huge benefit.



* Aging. I'm 47 and middle age is starting to catch up with me! Being able to select larger print to avoid having to use my reading glasses (just started needing them this last year) and having a device that's easier on my hands for holding to read is a boon.



* Less waiting for publication. I don't like reading hardbacks because of their size and weight. But it's agonizing to wait for the latest book in a series to finally come out in mass market format. Now I won't have to wait!



* Environment. The majority of books I buy and read I'll only read once. I feel guilty about the trees needed to make the paper and all the other energy used to produce and ship/distribute the books required to satisfy my reading appetite.



* Saving Money. While the cost of the Kindle up front is steep, in the long run it will pay for itself and save me money since I read on average 8 books a month. With the free classics available it's also going to encourage me to expand my reading material, for no additional cost.





My Kindle was one of the ones that shipped without being pre-registered to my account. After I plugged it in to my USB hub on my computer to charge the battery (the charging cord design is very clever!) I read through the introductory portion of the user guide which told me how to register the Kindle. I followed the instructions and a couple minutes later I was all set!



I thought it would be fitting to christen my Kindle with the Stephen King novella UR, so went to the Amazon site on my computer and clicked on the button to buy it. As soon as I'd clicked the button to confirm my order it appeared on my Kindle almost immediately! I read it while the Kindle finished charging.



First impressions:



When people say the Kindle is sleek they ain't kidding. Everything is very nicely laid out and it just feels and looks cool!



After reading through the introductory guide that loads up automatically at the start and following along it took me almost no time to learn which buttons are where and what each of them do. The intro guide is plenty to get started and I haven't felt a need to work my way through the more detailed guide.



The 5-way controller is teensy! I was a bit taken aback at first by this. Though after a bit of practice it's surprisingly easy to use. For people who have dexterity issues it could be a potential stumbling block. If that's you I'd recommend seeing if you can find someone with a Kindle 2 to try it out for yourself first to see how it works for you.



Being able to change the font sizes is awesome! It's done on the fly with just a couple button clicks.



When starting to read for real for the first time I was VERY aware that I was reading on an electronic gadget and was a bit disappointed that it didn't immediately "disappear" as per the advertising. However, it really didn't take too long for that feeling to lessen. I imagine once the Kindle is no longer my exciting new toy and is just what I use to read books that I'll have completely lost the gadget awareness thing.



It took very little time to get used to having to push a button to turn pages and the screen flash as they turn only really startled me the first few times. I can see how it might bother some people, but it was a non-issue for me almost right away. The page turns are very fast.



The Kindle design allows for holding it in several different comfortable positions with either hand. Normally when reading books I only like holding them in my left hand and during a long reading session it often starts to get uncomfortable, or even painful. I found myself easily switching my Kindle off between hands and into different positions in each hand without even really noticing I was doing it.



I ordered the Amazon case and am quite pleased with it. It's fairly sturdy, looks and feels well-made, and the design is perfect for how I'll likely be using the Kindle most of the time.



Unlike a lot of people in these reviews I think having the case as a separate purchase right from the start was a good move by Amazon. If a case was included, as with the Kindle 1, that would have been reflected in a higher price. But I'd imagine that probably 50% or more buyers end up buying a different case they like better, which means you end up paying for two cases. The way it's been done with Kindle 2 means you can pick which case you want right from the start and only pay once.



Overall I'm thrilled to finally be part of the Kindle community and expect to be spending many, many, many pleasant hours absorbed in books on my new best friend. Kindle me, baby!



Update 3/23/09:



I feel a bit guilty adding more to an already long review, but felt that since I've now had the Kindle for almost a full month it would be appropriate. I'm completely in love with my Kindle!



Like pretty much everyone else I feel that the Kindle 2 is in dire need of a user customizable folder system for organizing books. That's the biggest negative for me so far.



The dictionary function is absolutely fantastic and now that I'm accustomed to having it I found it's frustrating to be reading a paper book and not be able to use it!



I didn't think I'd be using the highlight and note features much or at all but actually have been and they're an extremely nice extra. People in book discussion groups would find these to be a huge benefit.



The search function is also surprisingly useful for a wide variety of uses.



I've definitely lost the gadget awareness thing. This is just how I read most books now.



One of the unexpected great things is not having to deal with my bookmark falling out and having to find my place again. Or being able to just set the reader down for a couple minutes without bookmarking or losing my place because I bumped the book and it closed. It's little things like this that really elevate the reading experience.



Update 6/22/10:



Yes I'm back to add even more! I can honestly say the Kindle is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I haven't read a paper book in over a year.



The reason for this update is because I now have the 2.5 software upgrade and wanted to comment on it.



As I mentioned previously, the Kindle was in dire need of a way to organize books and documents. We now have it in the form of Collections, which is a tagging system. I think it could have been implemented a bit better, but I don't know what sorts of constraints the designers are under. Even with its limitations it's still a HUGE improvement to the Kindle and corrected the one glaring flaw it had.



The Collections are all managed on the Kindle, no computer or software needed. It's very easy to create (or delete or rename) collections and to move books between them. You can name them whatever you like, have as few or many as you like (or none at all if you don't want them). Books can be put into more than one Collection. You can't make nested or sub-collections. Your collection info is backed up on the Amazon server just like the rest of your book info, such as last page read.



Other features added (all of them are optional):



Password. This is most useful for those who want to keep confidential documents on the Kindle. The password has to be entered to return from sleep mode or to access the Kindle from a computer. That's a bit of a hassle for reading at home, but provides excellent protection when traveling or for other uses.



Social networks. You can now send passages you have highlighted in a book you're reading to your Facebook account or Twitter. (I don't use either of those services, but some who use the feature say it's pretty neat.)



Larger fonts. Two new font sizes were added (for a total of 8). They are Humongous and Gargantuan (my terms). For anyone who has failing eyesight and is in need of text that large I'd recommend getting a DX for the larger screen. On the largest font size on my small Kindle there are only 5-8 words on the entire screen. Yeah, it's that big!



Sharper font display. My Kindle has always had a pretty good display and I never had the problems that some units did with greyish text or lack of contrast. I can discern a small difference though and it's definitely an improvement, most noticeable on the middle font sizes.



PDF Zoom & Scan. To make reading PDFs with teensy print or images easier you can now zoom in and pan around PDF pages. I don't use PDFs so can't report first hand. Others say that while the feature is helpful and a big improvement, it can still be frustrating to try and use PDFs on the Kindle natively.



International browser access. Kindle owners in many other countries report that they now have access to unlimited internet browser use. International users up til now have had no internet access, or only wikipedia access. Amazon never announced this as an added feature, but many of the country information pages have changed, so it must be an intended benefit. Great news for our international Kindle friends! Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White - 2nd Generation - Ebook Reader - Ebook - Kindle International - Kindle Book'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Kindle International - kindle international, kindle book ebook reader Kindle International - kindle international, kindle book

Fiction And Literature - scarlett johansson, fiction and literature

Visit Store Now !!

If you don't know much about painting, or Verneer for that matter, you don't have to worry. 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' is not about the painting of the title itself; the film is rather a romance behind the (much fictional) account of the making of the painting, or the forbidden relation between a man and a girl. As such, it is stunning, so are the actors, especially Scarlet Johanssen.



The simple story begins with a girl Griet perfectly played by New-York-State born Johanssen. Living in Holland, 1665 (around the time the painting is supposed to be made), Griet now has to work at the painter Verneer's house as maid, and as you may expect, the menial jobs only make the life there very drab.



But the painter himself, rather strange, and laconic guy Verneer (Colin Firth, with long hair), is not a bad master. By the time she understands that, she actually becomes the only person who in turn understands the importance of his work in the entire household of his. And the painter, whose wife just don't understand, and who is surrounded by many (more than 10) kids, also finds a solace in her....



The film could be more melodramatic, and some part almost become so (the theatrical portrait of Tom Wilkinson's greedy patron nearly did it), but thanks largely to the subtle lighting of photographer Eduardo Serra (known for Patrice Leconte films) and very credible production designs by Ben Van Oz (known for Peter Greenaway films), the film itself becomes a Vermeer painting itself. The story, relying on less dialogues than other costume films, manages to be engaging and involving, with the superb acting from the two leads.



But the greatest thing happens at the ending, which is inspired by the original painting. How to end a film is one of the trickiest parts of the job, and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' ends with a very clever, and also beautiful way. It still remains with me.



Some may call the film predictable, but that is a minor thing. As a costume drama this film is first-rate, but first and foremost it is a romance with a heart, the very universal theme. Girl With a Pearl Earring

Peter Webber's film "Girl With A Pearl Earring" speculates about the events around the painting of Vermeer's masterpiece of the same name. The art direction, costumes, sets and cinematography do a fantastic job of invoking that time period. Small details such as how the actual paint was made from the various ingredients Vermeer would gather add a wonderful authenticity to the proceedings.Scarlett Johansson portrays Griet, a young woman from a family that has come upon financial hardhip only recently and needs Griet to work to help support the family. Griet goes to be the maid in the household of the great Painter.As a woman in a male-dominated society of centuries ago, eons before words like "political correctness" or "sexual harrassment" were coined, Griet is subject to the whims of her social superiors, and as maid almost everyone she meets is socially her superior. Griet has spunk, though, and I liked the scene where Vermeer's bratty daughter deliberately smears Griet's freshly hung laundry with her muddy hand - Griet slaps the brat, then goes to pack her things thinking she is about to be let go.Vermeer sees something in Griet that he doesn't see in his family or acquaintances. Griet has an artists eye, and an eagerness for learning, so Vermeer becomes both her master (as in employer) and her mentor. Complications arise as Vermeer's wife does not possess the artistic eye and is insanely jealous, and Vermeer's wealthy patron Van Ruijven pays the bills but doesn't hesitate to puts his eyes and hands on any woman he cares to.I found the work realistic, and the movie has a real orchestral score that compliments the film well. Highly recommended for those with an artistic bent.

It is a joy to watch this definitive art movie, helped with one of the most exceptional cinemaphotagraphy ever made. The entire film was like stepping into a painting and each scene is like a painting in itself. It always amazes me how good a movie can be with so little dialogue spoken. A good actor can speak volumes with just a glance. A stolen glance, or a seemingly accidental touch between the two central characters---the artist Johannes Vermeer and his iridescent house maid Griet, communicated more subtly than any words could ever. I have always loved Flemish paintings for their simplicity and the use of light. And this is story telling at its best, a movie with heart and soul...about a painting many art critics call "The Mona Lisa of the North."



This is not a fast paced movie. Vermeer's paintings are incredibly hypnotic, drawing us into a time and place that no longer exists. The elementally envigorating music mixes well with the time and place. It's good to be transported several centuries back to live for a moment through the eyes of Griet (Johanson) and Vermeer (Firth). They played well the repressed passion between the two that was so thrilling where the film stayed so close to the plot of the book. I would recommend this film to anyone who has an eye for beauty or films that involve thought and emotion rather than just gratuitous explosions of violence and random sex...despite some flawed pieces in the story line: In the film, as in the book, the painting is commissioned by the patron Van Ruiven specifically because he is in lust with Griet, and Van Ruiven carefully specified who he wanted to be in it (Griet). Katarina's (Vermeer's wife) fury towards the end of the film therefore doesn't make sense at all.

Also Vermeer's gift to Griet of the pearl earrings is not believable. At the end of the film (and story), Vermeer would have known that after several years, Griet was married and living comfortably, while his eleven children were going to be destitute when he is gone. It is hard to believe that he would have given away valuable pearls to a former maid, even under the strength of his feelings for her, when the earrings weren't even his to give; they belonged to his wife.



Still the movie is a stunning visual experience. GWAPE is a Vermeer painting come to life. The cinematography was marvelous, but the editing and direction didn't live up to what could have been a more magical film about obsession, love, beauty and art. Not that the film doesn't work, because it does...it just feels incomplete as a whole. I ended watching the movie wanting more out of the experience. All of this said, it is still a gorgeous, worthwhile film... just one that isn't as great in the end as it should have been. It won't go down as a great film, but there is a great film lurking somewhere inside it.



Colin Firth brings his considerable repertoire of talents as the enigmatic Johannes Vermeer and makes him a formidable figure with sparse dialogue. Scarlet is the perfect Greit. Perhaps it is Scarlet Johanson's movie, and it may very well be. But Firth has the film in his own quiet and strong competent grasp. All the actors are outstanding...and this memorable movie is worthy to be seen again and again.

5 out of 5 - Scarlett Johansson - Period Movie - Based On The Novel - Fiction And Literature'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Fiction And Literature - scarlett johansson, fiction and literature based on the novel Fiction And Literature - scarlett johansson, fiction and literature

Not Recommended - nailer, not recommended

Visit Store Now !!

This nailer works great. If the tool fails to fire or jams frequently (if you read other reviews you'll read about complaints of this happening, where they drepress the nose several times and then it works for a while, etc): CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THE FUEL CELL.

An expired fuel cell will make the tool malfunction randomly (drive 3-5 nails, not work, drive 3 more then not work or jam, etc). Creating huge amounts of frustration.



I have a set of Impulse nailers (framing and trim) and both worked flawlessly when I first bought them. I use them for home projects, that is, it can be a year or more before I use it on another project. Last year I started a new project and the framing nailer started not firing after driving 3-5 nails. I cleaned, oiled and cleaned again with temporary results after a few nails. The "usual procedure" is to depress the nose 10 times on the trim and at some point it starts firing again. Needless to say frustrating enough to make you want to buy a corded tool.



Four days ago I started working on trim, and the finish nailer started behaving the same way. Finally mad as heck I contacted paslode, and they told me to check the expiration date on the fuel cells. Sure enough, both of them were over 18 months expired. I replaced the fuel cells with a new one from the store, and wham, works without hessitation. I offloaded about 100 nails with each nailer and not a single misfire.



[this is now a year from my original post - and both nails run like champs. Never again have they failed to misfire]



I would have rated this as a 5 star, if the manual would have suggested to check the expiration date of the fuel cells. Alas, it is possible that mine didn't say this because I bought mine over two years ago, and they had recently introduced the nailers. Paslode Cordless 16-gauge Angled Finish Nailer no. 900600

I use alot of tools,have read alot of reviews but have never been inspired to write one,Until Now!Leave the compressor and hose at home,Forever..This cordless finish gun is the only one you need,it has every bit the power as a pnuematic.The features are great,depth of drive that lets you know where its at and which way you need to go.Nail lockout that every nailgun should have, atleast high end,Period.Quick clear jam lever.At 4.9 pounds it may not be the lightest finish gun,but with no tail attached you can manuever it like its floating on air.The angled magazine appears to be 20 degrees, which hasnt been a problem getting into corners or tight spots,but use's special 16 ga. nails,not the 15ga. senco type nail most of us already have,but it does hold as many nails and is still more compact.The nails are priced competitively,The fuel cells on the other hand are half the size as the other paslode guns but cost the Same? The cost must be in manufacturing the cylinder not the fuel,The advantages far outweigh the negatives and this tool is here to stay so the fuel cells should become cheaper and the nails should always be around..I've shot well over 500 2-1/2 inch nails I'm still on the same battery and fuel cell.The night I got it I set it up shot 10 nails WOW! Put the battery in the charger took the fuel cell out put it all away.The next day set it up Nothing,Nothing,,I thought fully charged battery,new fuel cell whats the problem,still nothing.I was ready to tear it apart or take it back untill I pulled the fuel cell out manually expelled some fuel put it back in Bam,Bam.Apparently something clogged the tube,since then I've left the cell in and just take the battery out before I put it away FLAWLESS! Most mornings it fires first pump,a couple of times its taken 2 pumps one exceptionally cold morning I noticed a slight loss in power,a quick adjustment no problem.All in all this is one great tool,it was designed for the professional to be the best finish gun you can buy air or cordless.Get one you'll love it...

We own several different Paslode nail guns, including the framing nailer and the straight finish nailer. We began using the Paslode products about 4 years ago. I will say that the new guns we have purchased in the last few months are significantly better than the quality of the guns purchased just a year ago. Don't get me wrong, we weren't disappointed with our purchase a year ago, it's just that these "newest generation" guns fire smoother, have more power and have been more consistent.I have heard others complain about the cost of gas cartridges and replacement batteries and that the guns have to be reloaded fairly often. I will say that all of these are very minor inconveniences when compared to the overall benefits of these tools.We now own about 10 of these various Paslode guns for our crews and they are truly a great tool. While they are quite a bit more expensive than the air tools, the freedom of use that this style of gun offers and how it will make your work more effecient makes this a purchase well worth the money. Also, Amazon's price is EXTREMELY competative and not paying sales tax on the purchase saves us in Michigan another ... . You will not be disappointed with this purchase.

I have owned the Paslode Angled finish Nailer for about 3 months now and have fed through perhaps 1500 nails (mostly 2" and some 2 ½ & 1 ½"). I have never experienced a misfire! For the amount of work I do (definitely not a contractor) this tool is more than up to the challenge. The weight is less than 5 lbs, fits into most any spot and best of all there is no hose to follow you up a ladder. No doubt it is pricey, plus the nails and fuel cell costs would add up in a production environment. That said; I strongly believe that the convenience and freedom that this tool affords make up for these costs in most situations.

Prior to purchasing the nailer I spoke with Paslode about the reports of frequent misfires associated with this tool. They stated that the tool when originally released had its issues (mainly with 1 ¼" nails) but that they have been corrected. He went on stating the various modifications that had been rolled in to the latest version of the nailer and that the new nailers with a serial number starting with "03" were produced with all of these modifications. Judging from the performance I have experienced from my nailer I believe Paslode.

For me this tool has lived up to it's expectations and has allowed me to embark on projects I otherwise would have contracted out for or just not of completed. If you are a homeowner who does a lot of DIY or if you are a contractor who takes on finish carpentry work I am sure you will find this tool both useful and reliable... Since nothing else truly compares in terms of functionality I have to give this tool Five Stars...





****Update**** Just used this nailer the other day to fix some door molding. The unit worked perfectly as it has for nearly 7 years. - Paslode - Nailer - Not Recommended - Gas Fired Nailer'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Not Recommended - nailer, not recommended paslode Not Recommended - nailer, not recommended

Sports Illustrated - girls, sports illustrated

Visit Store Now !!

Its really hard to say something bad about SI review of girls, beaches, swim wear. On one hand its about girls, bikinis (lack thereof) and beaches. You can't go wrong with that.



One the other hand, the event tries to get all preachy and gives us insight about the photographers, models, the location. Who really cares? Its about girls, bikinis (lack thereof) and beaches. Can't we all get along and focus on the really important stuff like girls, bikinis and beaches.



I mean I really don't care about locations, pirate ships or whether Walter is the greatest photographer known to man. Truth to tell I hate Walter and his crew of people. He gets to go to beaches and take pictures of women. So I don't want to hear about his problems. I just want see girls, bikinis and beaches.



The reason that I rate it so badly is that I don't get anything out of it. SI gets the money and the publicity, the models get publicity, the photographers get the publicity but I get nothing out of it except visual pleasure. So just give me the visual pleasure without the blather. The 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show

Take a handful of the world's most beautiful tall undernourinshed 20'ish women and film them in strained positions looking bored. Call it a show.



DON'T let them tell you about themselves (which would probably be funny and touching).



I say SI - shoot this again. Get a loft in Greenwish Village, have the very same set of women sit around in T-Shirts and jeans, no make-up, sipping some wine, and just tell their stories. (OK, lowcut wet t-shirts and tight jeans, but still, .....).



Seriously, I did watch this 30 minute show on television (I DVR'd it), and I had to force myself to watch the whole thing. And I am a guy that loves to watch beautiful women.



Somehow, SI has managed to take one of life's greatest joys and drain the life and joy OUT of it.

I've downloaded various unbox videos, the quality isn't as good as HD, but looks roughly the same as regular TV. i think those who say it looks horrible either have very high standards or need to adjust their sets.

The video is shot in 16:9; but the unbox video is inexplicably 4:3. I couldn't figure out how to override the setting in the unbox video player or in windows media player. So, in the few minutes of the show that I watched, all the people were stretched out vertically.



I tried to watch in Media Player Classic (it will let me fix the picture); but it wouldn't play because of the DRM.



I loaded the portable file onto my creative zen vision w, and I was able to stretch to full on that device to get the proper aspect. but the portable file bitrate is so horrible, the show was still unwatchable. There were tons of compression artifacts and lots of blockiness. In a show like this, where the primary reason to watch is to look at the pictures, you want a good resolution and a good bitrate.



I only watched a few minutes because the show is extremely boring. And the technical difficulties make hard to watch.



I gave it two stars because the women are very good looking even when distorted.



Wait for the DVD to show up in the bargain bins. The video quality will be great and the aspect ratio correct.

I attempted to install Unbox and download this video. P4 2.8GHz 768MB RAM Windows XP Home SP2 machine froze to the point I needed to power cycle to get it unfrozen. Tried again - same thing - unininstalled this program as my machine cannot deal with it.

I downloaded this to my HD tivo on my 1080p tv an it was horrible. The show was in 4:3 with letterboxes on both sides. The show itself was 480 at tops. I loaded this because it was free so i could see what the quailty of a show would be if i decided to buy one, so far unbox did not impress me. - Sexy - Model - Sports Illustrated - Girls'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Sports Illustrated - girls, sports illustrated girls Sports Illustrated - girls, sports illustrated

Kindle 3 Case - ebook, e-reader

Visit Store Now !!

I was given a Kindle last year for Christmas. This year, for my birthday, I requested an Amazon gift card to buy Kindle books, and my daughter sent me one. It's wonderful. I just registered it as the clear instructions indicated and a few minutes later I was reading a new book on Kindle. It's a thoughtful, timely gift that allows the recipient to choose what they would like. Amazon.com Gift Card - $50 (For Mom design)

I found the plastic to be sturdy. I appreciated the rounded edges, which helped to avoid injury or embarrassing clothing snags while carrying it to my computer. The number was a little complicated because it also included some letters, but I was able to enter them using my keyboard with no problems. Then I shopped 'til I dropped.

I ordered these cards in preparation for the upcoming Holiday season. Placing the order was a breeze. I had ordered the generic gift card. My order was shipped by UPS next day air and it arrived as promised. Each envelope had the gift card attached to generic greeting card and another envelope to mail the greeting card. I did redeem some of the cards and the balance was immediately credited to my amazon account. Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase and will likely buy this again.

This is the PERFECT gift ... so many things to choose from on Amazon and very easy to redeem (just type in the card number at checkout or add the gift card number to your Amazon account).



After reading all of the reviews, I just want to clarify EXACTLY what you can expect to receive/get with your GIFT CARD order. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT combine/order GIFT CARDS to be mailed with other items from Amazon if you want the FREE 1-DAY shipping on your GIFT CARD(s). Order GIFT CARDS separate from other items you are ordering from Amazon (i.e., place more than one/separate orders on Amazon). If you do not, you will not receive FREE one-day shipping on your GIFT CARD(s).



1. I read the reviews that said that all of the GREETING CARDS (that contained the gift card) were sealed and that the person was not able to see which gift card went to which person (if they ordered different cards and/or different dollar amounts). Because of this, I placed 5 different orders for 5 different gift cards ALL sent to myself. That was unnecessary. Because while the OUTER envelope (which is really the Amazon's packaging for the greeting card/gift card combo) is sealed ... the GREETING CARD, which the gift card is attached to, and the ENVELOPE that it goes in are separate INSIDE the sealed ENVELOPE packaging (which is meant to be opened PRIOR to giving as a gift). So, when you open that sealed envelope you will see the card, as well as the gift card amount. At that point, you can also write a personal message on the GREETING CARD prior to giving.



2. The actual $ GIFT CARD for the Christmas designs are just the generic brown "a" with the curved underline (i.e., the Amazon.com logo). The ONLY thing that has the CHRISTMAS or holiday designs are the GREETING CARDS themselves. (LOOK closely at the pictures that Amazon shows and you will see this.) So, the GIFT CARDS do not have Christmas or holiday designs on them.



3. The PERSONAL MESSAGE that you type appears ONLY on the PACKING SLIP/receipt thrown in the box or bubble envelope that Amazon ships the SEALED ENVELOPE in. (That is, the little piece of paper that shows the GIFT FROM, shipping address and what was purchased.) Your message will NOT appear on the GREETING CARD, which is SEALED inside the ENVELOPE packaging. The person would have to look on the PACKING SLIP to see the personal message. NOTE: I order ALOT on Amazon and I have on occasion received items that *I* ordered for myself with no packing slip, which is not an issue because *I* ordered it. But, if I had received/or sent it as a gift, that could be an issue. The FIVE separate GIFT CARD orders that I placed and received all contained that small fax-paper like packing slip. BUT, it COULD happen that an order MIGHT not contain the packing slip since I have received orders without any packing slip. It's too bad that Amazon doesn't at least offer the option to have the message typed directly on the actual greeting card (like ToysRUs) when it's going to someone as a gift (and maybe say it would take longer than the standard 1-day shipping). Just a suggestion!



4. As I said, I ordered SEVERAL gift cards ... some arrived in a "book" or "cd/dvd" box and some arrived in a bubble envelope. Go figure! I guess it just depended on who packed it. ALL arrived via UPS the next day (where the next day was a business day). Two of the cards that were shipped in a bubble envelope did arrive slightly bent ... nothing major. Probably the best way for them to ship them is in the book/dvd/cd box since none of those arrived bent. (Note: If you live at an address or are sending to an address that UPS does not deliver to OR are only ble to receive items at a PO BOX because you live in a rural area, you might want to check with Amazon PRIOR to ordering a physical gift card.)



5. ALL of the information (#1-#3) that I included in my review, Amazon now includes in the ITEM DESCRIPTION. I'm not sure if Amazon changed their ways, added this information AFTER people were upset and complained, or it was there and people failed to read it. In any case, hopefully, my review helps to further clarify. It's always nice to know what your money is buying.



BTW, I also ordered 2 PRINTABLE gift certificate/cards. It was really easy ... picked the design, amount, quantity and entered my personal message. After checking out/paying, I received an e-mail from Amazon.com in a few minutes with a link for me to PRINT the card. After printing, fold the paper twice and voile an INSTANT CARD w/GIFT CERTIFICATE! Super quick, easy and a really cute looking card (similar to those 4-picture square, homemade greeting cards). - Contrast - Ebook - E-reader - Dx'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Kindle 3 Case - ebook, e-reader dx Kindle 3 Case - ebook, e-reader