Panasonic - 3d, 50 inch

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To preface this I have had 2 P50ST30s (one replacement because of the problems I will talk about below) and Amazon was awesome with the whole return and replacement. One of the best companies I have dealt with. This is a very long review as I would like you to understand what you are buying beforehand.



ALL VERSIONS OF PANASONIC 2011 TVs ARE EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM.



I was excited when I first set up my TV and took the time to age the phosphors in the TV for 150 hours by running slides (a step that can be skipped but the phosphors degrade in the first 100 hours faster than the rest of it's life). I set up the blu-ray player and after dialing in the settings it looked awesome. Then the brightness fluctuations happened.



The best way I can explain brightness fluctuations ( Fluctuating Brightness or FBr) is will be a leap in lighting. When you have a dark scene the whole picture will darken some to give more detail to a shadowed area. It is necessary to give great picture quality in any plasma. Normally what will happen is that it will gradually fade into darker or lighter, this TV does it all in one step. A drastic comparison would be a pitch black room where you turn a light on vs turning a dimmer light on gradually. What you see on the screen is picture that will switch from dark to lighter. It is most noticeable when you have 2 scenes switching back and forth (think dialogue between 2 characters where it switches between ones face to the other) and one scene is darker than the other. You can easily see this in the movie Hereafter around minute 40.



This problem is exacerbated by a delay in the video processing of the switch between darker scenes and lighter scenes. In almost all video they will have scenes cut and pasted together. When this happens the lighting usually will change for various reasons. When the scenes cut from one to another this TV will take about 0.5-1 second to process the lighting difference to adjust to give more detail to shadowed areas. Given that it does it in one leap as mentioned above, it severely distracts you from watching the movie and enjoying it.



Darker Movies will usually bring out these symptoms to it's max. When I went to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, I came to the point where I started counting the fluctuations instead of watching the movie. I counted 56 total in one watching. My wife didn't watch HP with me but she commented on it while watching Castle a few times, then more and more on other shows.



The reviews are definitely favorable as it has a great picture quality without doubt. Most professional reviewers mention fluctuating brightness problem, but gloss over it. Why they did I am not sure. It seems that some sets show this dramatically, while others don't. My first one (the one I counted 56 fluctuations on for HP) I would say was very bad compared to a slightly less worse one that I got the second time around. I re watched HP on the second one to see if I could just enjoy the movie, got to the point I started counting again and only counter 32 which were more tame but still easy to spot without even looking for them. To make sure it just wasn't me seeing things because I knew when they were, I made (yes she wasn't to happy about it) her watch Tron with me. We first started Tron in 2d and she saw it some; then I popped in the 3d disc and she was pointing it out in every other scene.



I placed a complaint with US Panasonic as this was unacceptable, trying to explain it the best as I am now. I was walked through changing multiple settings (CATS off, trying all modes, changing contrast and all other settings, using 3 different HDMI cables along with composite and component cables) with nothing relieving the issue. Their response was that this is a feature of the TV and that it was working properly. Some of their exact words in the email I later received were " the picture dimming (fluctuating brightness) is negligible and should be considered within the TV's design specification."



In Spain a gentleman Documented this for Panasonic to prove that something was wrong. If you would like to see how bad this is; there has been a video posted by a member of a great forum for high def junkies that shows this instance (Google " VT30 hereafter " and it will show in the youtube vids) if you would like to see exactly what I am talking about. The TV here was the VT series which is Panasonic's flagship model and cost well over $1,200 of this TV.



Since the posting of the above video Spain got a firmware update to 1.520. The same person posted the exact same scene with the same setup which you can also view by clicking on his name or clicking on it on the right hand side. It eliminates this problem, since then Europe Panasonic have acknowledged that there is something that they are looking into (circumventing saying there is a problem). But US Panasonic calls this a feature that is working as intended. Unlike US Panasonic which I have opened 2 cases with them about this problem, one for both TVs, and just receive it's a feature of the TV which is working properly...



I am hoping that this is heeded as a warning to many as I feel terrible about Amazon being outstanding in it's Customer Service trying to rectify what is obviously not their fault. I am a man that researches any large purchase to the T to try to avoid these problems. I weighed my options and since the professional reviewers either made no mention of this problem or said it was a minor problem; I decided to buy this Panasonic. I post this in hopes that those that do their research won't feel gypped as I do.



If you would like to read more comments a Facebook page was created in hope that it would have an effect as it did with Sony. It is on facebook under "My 2011 Panasonic TV is Defective".





UPDATE 7/26 : Various Panasonic emails have said that there will be an announcement this Wednesday 7/27. Also a A reliable higher up in Panasonic NA has said that there is a FW that will be aimed at fixing "panel dimming" very soon (this term has a different meaning then Fluctuating Brightness, but all other FW fixes in Europe that fixed the FBr were released to fix another problem). This could or could not be a fix to the above problems, but hopefully putting 2 and 2 together means we will be getting a FW fix this Wednesday. Whether this is a fix to the above problems or not remains to be seen. Since I published this report it has been confirmed that all European models are now shipped with the Firmware that fixes FBr, while here in NA it hasn't been addressed. Here is to hoping for a statement Wednesday.



*UPDATE* 8/6/11 : First there has been no true announcement from Panasonic NA as of yet. But after getting all the data collected and sent forward to the engineers (yes many people that owned the TV put in this work), the engineers were able to replicate the problem. Since then there is now a patch. This is not a Firmware update, instead it changes other "software" in the TV like the EEPROM. Since it is not strictly a Firmware update they cannot simply have your tv download it from the internet like normal. It REQUIRES, at least as of right now, a tech to come out to install it on your TV.



Note that this fix has been confirmed to be loaded on TVs coming from the factory now. When this change occurred I cannot tell you neither can anyone that you can talk to, so please do not hound amazon, Panasonic or any other retailer. I assume the earliest we will see TVs with this update will be very late July produced TVs if not August. If you decide to buy a TV from Amazon please just allow them to come out and patch the TV instead of sending it back. If you send it back Amazon has to eat the shipping and this is one company that tries it's hardest to help the customer. So please do not make them eat the cost or else they WILL eventually have to change the policies they have. It may take a few weeks to get the rep out, butit is worth it to allow amazon to keep its very lax and customer happiness driven CS.



Now onto the results :



I have had this patch on my TVs for 2 days now. I compiled a list of FBr material that was bad during the data collection phase before we passed this on to the Panasonic Engineers so I had a list prepared to test this afterward to see if it was fixed or not. Running through 20 of the worst scenes over 6 movies (Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 1, Tron, Casino Royale, Hereafter, Battlefield LA). In these movies I saw not 1 noticeable FBr ( I say noticeable because FBr is in the driving mechanism of this TV). I noticed only 1 instance of a small FBr in the movie The Rite, but it was under extreme circumstances (dark background to near white background with a shadowed face in a scene change). Besides that I also watched some streamed video (Master Chef, True Blood, Band of Brothers etc) and got the same results of no FBr. Gaming (Fallout 3, Dragon Age Origins and Gears of War 2) was also the same, no FBr.



Overall it fixed the problem almost completely, if not completely. This patch surpassed my expectations and Panasonic owned up and fixed a glaring problem. There have been 3 forum users that have this fix and posted about it. They all report the same thing.



If you have purchased this TV or any other Panasonic NA ST30, GT30 or VT30 and have the problems mentioned above please call 1-800-973-4390. This is Panasonic Concierge and this is the number that was requested to call by the engineers. Tell them you have Fluctuating Brightness. Low end techs have been sent a memo regarding this. Many are now receiving emails to set up appointments.



Because of this fix I have amended my score of the TV. For this price this TV is amazing. I reserved 5 stars for the Pioneer Kuro (the gold standard), 4 1/2 stars for the VT series and dk8000. This TV 4 stars is an undervaluation, but it is all I can do on here. Honestly it would be 4.25 taking into account the above TVs superiority. I cannot express how happy I am with this TV now that it is fixed.





****UPDATE 8/22/11****

They have a limited amount of panasonic qualified techs that can install the update via SD card and will NOT give out the SD card for local non-panasonic techs to install as it has proprietary software on it. To alleviate the problem they send a new a-board to local techs that has the patch preloaded. The tech can then come out and install the new a-board under warranty claim (all free to you).



It is a simple procedure and only takes 15 minutes. This a-board replacement doesn't void any warranty as it is done by Panasonic under Panasonic's warranty by a qualified tech.



*WARNING* the a-board swap AND the SD patch will wipe your calibration and the ISF day/night mode (ISF day/night is only available if you have the TV calibrated and the tech turns it on in the Service menu), if you had one done. If you decide to do either of the fixes I would suggest buying a backup program (like controlcal) to save your settings. You can then reload them after the patch. It has been noted by calibrators that after either of the fixes that you will get close to the same results with the old calibration, but they say you will need a touchup to gray scale and colors to be as accurate as possible.



From good sources it has been said that any August build TVs should have the fix pre-installed. Unfortunately the build date isn't on the outside of the box in the US. There is another way to check if it has been factory installed though. The 3-6 numbers in the serial number designate whether it has been fixed or not. These 4 numbers need to be 1215 or higher for the fix to be pre-installed. It will look like : xx1215xxxxxx .



Again if you order from Amazon, or any other online type store, they have no direct control on what comes out of the warehouse and you CANNOT request that it is an August build as they have no control on what goes out. If you want to be sure of what you get, you should buy local and specifically state you will only buy it if it meets those criteria.



The fix is easy enough to get that you should feel comfortable ordering this product. Don't order this product and expect a 1215. Instead order this product expecting to have the tech come out. You may get a set pre 1215 that has no FBr as about 50% of the people report that they have no problem without the patch or you may get a 1215 build, but you should go into it expecting what you will most likely get. Then anything else is a bonus. If you don't feel good about buying the TV and possibly getting a FBr one then I suggest not buying from online stores.



To those outside of the US. Panasonic divisions are completely separate as they use different components, different firmware etc so this fix is for US only. The US division is sharing this info with EU, Canada, Australia etc to try to get this problem fixed with those TVs also. The other countries are still in the beginning stages so don't expect them to be exactly where the US is as the other countries have to test, document, confirm, create a fix (using different components/software mean they just can't copy/paste the US fix to theirs) and then test the fix. I cannot give you an update on outside of US, but I would suggest that you make your voice heard by opening tickets and speaking out about the problem.



Lastly for those that do have the TV or those that are willing to buy the TV and get the fix after. Call up Panasonic Concierge at 1-800-973-4390 . Allow them to walk you through the steps they have and try them as it is possible that it could fix your problem. If they walk you through that and you still see the FBr they should have received info on how to push it to the next level. To make sure here is the Document that they can look up regarding this issue :



Service Hint ('A' Board replacement to fix the 'brightness fluctuation" in the ST30/GT30/VT30).

SH-B34-11-03-REV



A majority of this info is me simply condensing what many others have done to get this in place. Thanks go to the great people of highdefjunkies.com especially 3 in particular, D-Nice for his initial findings and universal knowledge; AVjunkie and Gotchaa who helped consolidate/voice our problems to the techs. Panasonic VIERA TC-P50ST30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV - Hdtv - Panasonic - 50 Inch - 3d'

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Cordless Impact - lightweight, drill

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Bright and tough. The light and handle rotate through 360 and 210 degrees respectively, with detent stops every 30 degrees. It's quite versatile. It would have been nice if the book atop the handle were also designed to swivel. Bare-Tool Porter-Cable PC18AL 18-Volt Cordless Area Light (Tool Only, No Battery) - Drill - Jig Saw - Lightweight - Cordless Drill'

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Cordless Impact - lightweight, drill lightweight Cordless Impact - lightweight, drill

Running Watch - emerald, ironman watch

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I am 5'8" and 165 lbs... not a big guy, but this watch looks like a toy watch on me. The natural curve of the band isn't comfortable on my wrist and causes the dial to sit above my wrist. I think it is a solid state item and I would be more than tough enough for me, but it looks disproportionately small on my wrist. Either Chelsea Watches sent me the kiddie version or maybe I have a sensitive ego. I give it 5 stars for quality, but beware that it is smaller than you will expect. By way of comparison, I had the Timex Marathon 8 lap watch and it is smaller than many watches but fits me very well. Timex Midsize T53161 Ironman 30-Lap Resin Strap Sports Watch

I was looking for a digital watch that had a face that wouldn't catch on clothing, or anything else, and had a rubber (polyurethane) strap that wouldn't absorb smelly sweat after I went running. This Ironman has fulfilled both of those needs. Unlike my previous digital watch, this face is mid sized and does not snag on the wrists of jackets or on the carrying straps of book bags. The polyurethane wrist strap is smooth on the skin, doesn't absorb sweat, easy to rinse, and durable. The indiglo light is bright and the watch is easy to read. The watch's features include: two time zone clock, with options for a 12 or 24 hour time keeping; alarm; a stop watch with splits and 30 lap memory; and a count down clock. All of which are simple and intuitive to program.



This Ironman is a very good watch for general use or for those who need something that can handle the rigors of exercise.

I have this watch and it is great for exercise and general use. I had an old ironman watch for the longest time. I lifeguarded for four summers with it and wore it every time I went swimming. I used it to count laps while I was swimming. After 6 years it finally died and I got this one. I'm disappointed because the first time I wore it in the water it stopped working. Eventually it started working again when it dried out. The seal on it must not be any good. I only give it two stars because it hasn't lived up to the expectations I had for it based on my old ironman watch.

Overall, this watch is great. I wore it day-in day-out from 3/2005 to 5/2009 and it never let me down. I bought it at KMART for $35. I replaced that battery once (or was it 2x?) and it was strong as ever (indiglo is faint when battery is low). Took it to the pool many times for timed swims! Has the features everyone truely needs in a digital: daily alarm, two timers (count down and stopwatch), indiglo, date + day of week. Plus other fancy stuff I didn't know what to do with (split? chrono? lap?). I'm sure you athletes know what that's about. Anyway, never strached up the face, and I did plenty of outdoors stuff.



Definitely, a little room for improvement: I'm a tiny lady with tiny wrists, and this "mid sized" watch was big on me (1) visually, a bit butch (2)thickness. Band gets annoying after hours at the computer!!!. That's how I ended up losing it on campus this week. Also, I'm not a whiner, but for a unisex watch, it was definitely on the boyish side.



Since I've misplaced mine (drat!) I'm here looking on Amazon for a more lady-like but just as sturdy and with the digital features I require. I think I'll end up with the Timex Marathon, which seems to fit the bill. However, that one is notorious for the slim band breaking.



Come on Timex, get your materials engineers on this...I want a flexible unbreakable slim band to house your great watch.

I want to like this watch. The price is right.



However, I would agree with the other reviewers that this is a woman's watch.



1. It's slightly bigger than a woman's small, but not quite the size of a man's small watch.



2. The band is very narrow and would not fit most men well. I have thin wrists, and it's still very narrow for a man's wrist band.



There also are issues with the face of the watch:



1. The contrast between the face of the watch and the numbers isn't that good in low light, making the time hard to see. In normal light, it's actually pretty good, but in bright light the crystal has some glare.



2. Even though the watch is about 1 ½ inches, the actual LCD screen with the numbers is only about 1/3 of that size. Additionally, the LCD screen is sunken in about ¼ inch, meaning the frame of the watch casts a shadow on the date making it harder to read.



Lastly, it's ironic they call this an "Ironman" model. The Ironman is a race that combines swimming, cycling, and a marathon. But don't wear this watch while swimming. The instructions say this watch is water resistant only for the purpose of "everyday life", and not water resistant for "water related work", "swimming", or "surfing, snorkeling, water sports".



Nevertheless, the watch fits my needs and for the price I can live with the difficulty in seeing the time. Also, as far as multi-function watches, the functions on this one were well designed.

Dear Sirs:



I received my watch in time for Christmas; however, the watch had a dead battery in it when I received it. The instructions were so old they crumbled when I unfolded them, obviously this watch had been sitting in a warehouse for many years prior to shipment. Why didn't anyone check it before it left the warehouse? Bad timing for something like this.



Sincerely,



Phillip Masters - Emerald - Sport Watch - Ironman Watch - Running Watch'

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Sport Headphones - running, headphones

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I am forever in search of the perfect running headphones. I run 3-4 times/week in all sorts of weather, so my headphones take a beating. I've only had these a few weeks, so the jury is still out, but I think I'm going to like them.



Pros:

-The anchor point of the cord to the neckband is behind the left ear. This keeps the cord out of the way, especially if you run the cord down your back, but also holds true if you connect to your iPod on your arm or have the cord run across your chest.



-The earbuds are the round, soft rubber type, as opposed to the more common circular, hard type (like standard iPod earbuds). This is far superior for staying in your ear and for hearing the music.



-The neckband is sturdy and shaped well.



-Having a clip is great. Some people don't use them, but I think it's essential for running.



-The price is right. There are more expensive headphones out there, but I've found that running headphones WILL develop issues after prolonged use, so it's nice if they're relatively inexepensive to replace. If these last a year they will have met my expectations and I will have gotten my money's worth.



Cons:

-The only downside is that the connection point to the iPod is straight, as opposed to angled 90 degrees. This makes for a less compact connection, and I'm afraid jeopardizes the longevity of the wires.



The sound is fine. I'm not a huge audiophile to begin with, and I'm not looking for perfect sound when I'm running.



I'll update this review after a few months, but it looks like these might be a winner, especially for the price. Philips SHQ4000/28 Neckband Headphones Tuned for Sports

The "Philips SHQ4000/28 Neckband Headphones Tuned for Sports" are the best i've found for running.



PROS:

- they stay well inside your ear

- the sound quality is good. i haven't seen a big diff between these phillips and a pair of Monster Turbine High-Performance In-Ear Speakers i've purchased recently. i got the monsters for 60 in gold box, originally priced at 120-130.

- they come with a little clip that can help you get the cable to stay where you want it to stay. pretty handy

- the neckband makes it easy to pull them out of your ear without them hanging around (as happens with normal in ear headphones). if somebody comes to speak to you you can just pull them off ,let them rest on your neck, and not worry abour them wobbling around.



CONS:



- if you want to wear them on a plane, or while sitting where you may want to rest your head against something (a bed, a good chair, etc) the neckband will touch the seat before your head, and pop the headphones out of your ear. they're made for sports, not for lying around ;)



- for a bike they aren't the best, if your riding really bent forward the neckband may touch your back and shift the headphones around.



FINAL:

the neckband phillips are the best i've tried when it comes to running. i have no regrets.



hope this helps!



rodrigo.

I've had several brands of in-ear headphones --- from the $25 level to the $100 plus. None compare to the combination of sound quality + comfort + plus ability to stay in place + no itching... these are GREAT. I even use them under my helmet when riding my motorcycle and they are GREAT for this too. I'm impressed!

I rarely review items online, but I feel these are worth it. I spend A LOT of time running (5k, 10k 1/2 and full marathons) and I have spent a ton of money on headphones that are "made for sports". I have at least 10 pairs of sports headphones ranging from $30 to $180 and none have ever worked for running...until now. I have put in 130 miles in the last 3 weeks (training for the Boston marathon) and absolutely love these headphones! I can run for 3+ hours at a time and never have to touch them. They don't move or bounce around, they don't hurt your ears like typical in ear headphones do, and they are super light. Sound quality is as good or better than any other sports headphones I have tried. If youare a runner, then I assure you that you will be happy with these. The only down side (if you can really call it that) is that if you spend a lot of time in the gym lifting weights, then they will get in the way sometimes if you are trying to lay down on the bench. Other than that, I consider them flawless!!

My goodness. First off: The fit right out of the box. They come with three different sized ear "things", and chances are they'll fit anyone. Second: they're the perfect size for your head. They're so comfortable around the back of your neck. Third: They're light weight and water proof! Really, they're the best headphones I've ever worn.

I have tried for years to find a headset I can workout with that actually fits, stays in my ears, and delivers quality sound. I'm happy to report I have finally found the headset. For years I have tried various ear buds, of all sizes and other types of workout headphones. None of the buds will stay in my ears, regardless of size or material. Other headphones have been bulky or have delivered less than quality sound. These headphones fit snugly, stay in my ears and stay out of the way - I love them. I may have to order a 2nd one just to have a spare.

For the past 5 years I've been searching for a pair of headphones that suits my needs. I work out and run every single day, about 20-30 miles a week. These headphones DO NOT MOVE. They stay exactly where you want them, in your ears! Lets be honest folks, you aren't buying these for superior sound quality, you are buying them so you can put them through hell during a workout, you just need sound to drown out the noise of your own breathing. The sound quality is much better than I expected considering they are water proof. They sound tons better then the ever so popular Skull Candy. The cord is the perfect length, and if it too long for you there is a cord clip to hide away the unneeded slack. As for the review commenting about the cord problem and "whiplash"... That is what the cord clip is for!!!!! Use it!!!! I've owned a pair of behind the head headphones before and they always got in the way when I was on a bench. These stick right close to your neck but leave just enough room for comfort. - Sports Headphones - Running - Headphones - Orange'

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Home Office - electric sharpener, office supplies

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I was excited to purchase this product for my students as a replacement. It is the slowest pencil sharpner and seems to have no power to it...very cheap looking! If I knew this I would of spent a little more money for a better product Stanley Bostitch Personal Electric Pencil Sharpener, Black (EPS4-BLACK)

I didn't think I needed to spend $40.00 on a pencil sharpener, but I was wrong. This sharpener will eventually get the job done, but plan on spending 4 to 5 minutes to sharpen a new pencil. Even then, you will need to apply a fair amount of pressure and continually rotate the pencil to get an even point. Either pay up or go manual!

I bought this because my old sharpener had a crayon jammed in it(kids.) When I tried to sharpen the 200 or so pencils, I could not get a point, and it took forever, I gave up after just 2 pencils. I'd be better off using the cheap manual ones. I thought I just got a bad one.

I purchased the electronic pencil sharpener for my kids because the manual one was not working anymore. It's easy to use and compact enough to fit on my end-table for quick and easy access. The kids find it very easy and my youngest won't stop sharpening all her pencils!

this pencil sharpener is just not quite powerful enought to do the job it takes 3 minute to sharpen a pencil from new. thats a long time to spend on one pencil. and if you don't hold it just right it shuts off. it also wobbles and leaves long peices of the wood sometimes. not happy with this one at all - Office Supplies - Electric Sharpener - Pencil Sharpener - Home Office'

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Trifold Wallet

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I was alittle concerned when I bought the wallet about the quality since the price was so reasonable. Wow, what a surprise when I recieved it. Nice quality!!!!! Real soft, love that smell. Stitching appears sturdy. Ill update after some use(it was a gift for my dad who is pretty rough on his wallets)Dont hesitate because of the price...jump on it!!!! Mens Black Leather Wallet Lambskin "Flip" Trifold 732

Good quality for price, but wallet is way to small to hold the usual items a man carries. Had to trim photos quite a bit, and even with only two credit cards, drivers license, and a few bills and photos, it would not fold up all the way. Would not recommend unless one would carry only one card, one photo and a few bills.

If You Carry Around a Lot of Stuff then this wallet is for you. You could put about 15 credit card size items in the pockets provided. It seems very sturdy, and closes easily even with quite a few cards in it. The billfold part has two compartments which is very convenient for putting dollar bills in one and coupons, lists etc. in the other.



ONE THING THOUGH: As one reviewer has stated this wallet does STINK of a strong leather smell. I am assuming the odor, like that of a new car, will dissipate in time. If the smell doesn't go away it probably should not be a severe problem unless you spend your day with your nose epoxied to your wallet. There are people that do that you know. One advantage of the odor could be that if you lose your wallet a moderately trained bloodhound could find it anywhere.

I only have a few cards; and I'm not loaded for cash, but this wallet barely held any if it... It didn't stay folded with 5 cards, a license and 25$ cash...

The only thing this wallet has going for it is that it's real leather...

I decided to save a couple of bucks and ordered this particular trifold over a Geoffrey Beene Wallet that was about $5 more. I didn't really care about whether or not the wallet was name brand or not cause in all probability it's probably being made in the same place. However I should have paid a few more dollars for another wallet because this wallet stinks!!! And I don't mean figuratively. When I opened the package there was an awful stink to it. It had a similar chemical smell that you expect from lower quality leather (which was just fine by me I wasn't expecting special just a wallet that works) except it was about 10x as worse. I tried to air it out for a few days; but it didn't work; the smell was just as bad, to the point that it was unusable.

Okay. So I was being a typical wife. I absolutely HATED my husband old, worn-out, hole-filled wallet. He needed a new one, darnit!. Of course, he didn't think so. His tattered, old wallet was just fine for him. But it was embarrassing for me, at restaurants when he took this old thing out to pay for our meals. So, yep. I turned into that typical wife and replaced it. First, I measured the old, junk and made sure what pockets and folds that it had. Then I went searching for a replica. This wallet fit the bill. But it had a few extra items that the old one didn't have: a slit for the bills and receipts, and a flip up thingy for more cards. When the hubby wasn't looking, I replaced all his cards and put them in this new wallet in the exact same places as his old wallet. It was a chore, I tell ya. Some of the stuff was sticking inside the plastic and actually made it's print on the plastic. It took some care to take out the little paper business cards stuck in the plastic. And, no, I'm not that mean to just throw the old one away. I did leave him the option to keep the old thing. I left the old thing in his drawer. When he went to his wallet, he came back and showed it to me. "You finally did it, huh?" I shrugged at him. "Did what?" Of course, I didn't admit to it. Though it was obvious. The color was different. Long story short, the old, beat up, hole-filled wallet, three months later...is still in the drawer. This wonderful, new, shiny, wallet has now shaped itself and flatten out, and I admire it every time he takes it out and pays a bill. It's a wonderful, slick look even now, three months later.



SIDE NOTE: Hubby never admitted that he liked this one better. And he complained that it was too bulky with all his cards in it. He did comment that he liked the slit portion that now can separate his bills from his receipts. And now, that it's flattened out, I haven't heard anymore complaints. :)'

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Easy Smoothie Recipes - easy recipes, green smoothies

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I have been eating about 90% raw since February, and am used to "green" juices, which I love, and these receipes expand my opions 100 fold. Many recipes contain combinations of the same ingredients, so you can easily shop and pick and choose what you like. Give some to people who have never had a green juice they will love it. If you are in to eating healthy...this is book is a great addition to your library. This book is better than adding ice cubes to your glass! Green Smoothie Recipes & other Healthy Smoothie Recipes: Discover over 50 Easy Smoothie Recipes - breakfast smoothies, green smoothies, healthy ... treat smoothies and fruit smoothie recipes

I've gone through a few blenders just in the past year alone since I make smoothies so often. I have one for breakfast every day since I'm in a hurry to get work done and I sometimes have one for a snack or "dessert." My favorite recipes in here are the green smoothies since I'm really into the whole "green drink, green foods, etc." No matter what kind of smoothie I make, whether a fruit and juice smoothie or a yogurt and milk smoothie, I always toss in something green. Sometimes I add liquid chlorophyll, or barley grass, or spinach leaves.



In Green Smoothie Recipes & other Healthy Smoothie Recipes: Discover over 50 Easy Smoothie Recipes - breakfast smoothies, green smoothies, healthy ... treat smoothies and fruit smoothie recipes you'll find more than 50 delicious and easy recipes. Enjoy!

This book explains how to make smoothies healthy in the introduction (see inside the contents page) and there is a really good chapter on green smoothies and what ingredients you can use and various recipes. Basically it has helpful tips, hints and loads of recipes that you can make exactly as they are or make your own with less juice, more milk, different milks, yogurt, protein powders, frozen fruits etc. There's a smoothie for every occasion in here.

I love this book! I was looking for a recipe book that would give me good ideas for making delicious drinks, and this book takes it one step further. These fantastic smoothies are actually GOOD for you! What a great way to combine good health and good taste.



There are loads of recipes to choose from and that the introduction gives great advice on how to thicken smoothies and use less sugary content like adding different milks and yogurts



If you are interested in more than just great taste but in the benefits of what to add for your health then this is the book for you!

To start, my wife is diabetic, my little sister is a very picky eater, and I was never one for the healthy food movement. That is until my wife brought home this book, a load of fresh fruits, and a tub of yoghurt. (I didn't even think they made them in tubs!) Well, a few hasty tries, and we started to get the hang of making awesome smoothies! We've even started making our own recipes using the book as a guideline. This is a great way to get you started on making your own delicious snacks, desserts, even a light meal substitute, if that's what you need for the time. I'm really glad my wife got me to start eating healthier, and I'm really glad she came home with this book! Highly recommend it for anyone who wants to try a healthier alternative to high sugar drinks, and snacks. I even recommend it if you just want to try something new!

This is fantastic book if you enjoy smoothies (and who doesn't)! It is fun, it is well written, and it is full of great ideas that are tested and proven (as well as tasted I am sure) :) I am already having too much fun with this review, but it is difficult not to after reading Green Smoothie Recipes! It is filled to the brim with fun things to try out and they are all healthy AND tasty! It is difficult to find foods that are both tasty and good for you, especially in the summer when we all eat too many sugars. This book is the perfect way to learn how to increase your fruit intake without giving up on delicacies we enjoy so much. I highly recommend it and would give it more stars if I could. FIVE WELL DESERVED STARS from me*****

I love this book! I was looking for a recipe book that would give me good ideas for making delicious drinks, and this book takes it one step further...these fantastic smoothies are actually GOOD for you! What a great way to combine good health and good taste. - Fruit Snack - Easy Smoothie Recipes - Easy Recipes - Green Smoothies'

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Easy Smoothie Recipes - easy recipes, green smoothies easy recipes Easy Smoothie Recipes - easy recipes, green smoothies

Car Battery Charger

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We purchased the JNC300XL about a year ago to power a camera system we were developing for a truck. We needed 12Vdc vehicle power while in the lab and in the field for testing off the vehicle. It charges quickly, holds a charge for months and is light and compact. Last summer my wife called to say she was first in a left turn lane on a busy expressway and her car stalled and would not start. I grabbed to JNC300XL where it had set for months without a charge and off I went. I connected it to her battery and it provided plenty of power to turn over her fair sized V6 engine and start the car. The nice thing is it was a quick hook up. I wasn't in the middle of a busy road trying to get my car close enough to her car to string a couple of jumper cables. It is great for powering gadgets that normally plug into a cigarette lighter for power. You unplug the "flashlight" on the front of the unit to access the cigarette lighter plug. As with all batteries it should be charged every several months to keep the batteries from becoming un-chargeable. Since it is a sealed spill proof lead-acid battery like a car battery it does not have a memory nor will it be damaged by being topped off once in a while. It will die if left discharged for a long period. The manual can be found at [...] Jump-N-Carry JNC300XL 900 Peak Amp Ultraportable 12V Jump Starter with Light

I already had a JNC 660 for my truck and wanted to put smaller units in each of our cars. I bought 3 of these, then 2 more for Christmas gifts. They are easy to use and much more dependable than the cheap imports with lots of whistles and bells.... I prefer the larger unit for my dodge 1500 with a V-8 (I've jumped it 5 or 6 times between charges without a problem... electrical trouble...) This smaller unit is great for our Toyota 4 cylinder cars and Chrysler Concorde with a 3.5 6 cylinder. These beat the heck out of jumper cables, and my daughter and wife don't have to ask strangers for help... or wait for AAA.

GREAT PRODUCT! for the price.

I spent 2-3 hours on-line looking for what I needed. A Battery Jumper: 1) not too much money, 2)would help me start my car immediately...This accomplished both needs. This is the cheapest, most reliant item. Ignore the Black&Decker item. I read too many bad reviews.

I used this one 5 times (within 2 months) before I took my car into the shop to correct the REAL problem ---My real problem: I bought a cheap replacement battery.

This item saved me from having my Auto Club telling me, "SORRY, YOU HAVE CALLED US TOO MANY TIMES".

This Jump-N-Carry appears to have been repackaged by Griot's Garage and sold for twice to price as Amazon. It has identical features except for color and stickers. I have a 2004 half-ton pickup that I use for towing a travel trailer. The truck is heavily bedecked with high tech equipment (engine programer, gps, cb radio,satellite radio, back up camera, spotlight, etc) and frequently the battery is too low to start the truck when it is not driven for several days. Also, I have rescued many clicking starters of stranded drivers in parking lots during my travels. It is comforting to have this jumper riding shotgun during my travels. I highly recommend this jumper.



I highly recommend this jump starter without reservation.

I got this a few days ago (fully charged upon arrival). I probably won't have much of a need to use it to jump start autos, but rather to run 12V devices through it's 12V outlet. This it does just fine. Nice little, light unit.



The description (and the on-line owner's guide) don't mention a 12V outlet socket, but it's there. One other reviewer just mentioned it in passing so I thought I'd check before ordering. I called both the technical support and sales numbers from the owner's guide and on line. One said, "No 12V outlet in this model." Other said, "Older model had no socket, in newer version flashlight unplugs revealing standard 12V socket." If the (incorrect) belief that there is no 12V outlet socket has influenced your buying decision, it just ain't so.

I wish all cars had auto shut-off feature so that it turns off the headlights and all electronics (except for door lock), so that if you forget to turn these off and remove the key, it wouldn't be sucking power off of your car's battery. My Mercedes would turn off the headlights and all electronics but my Honda would not. Having been spoiled by the Mercedes, I often forget to turn off the headlights and interior lights on my Honda, resulting in a dead battery.



Since I bought this jump starter, fortunately I didn't have to use it because I never ran into a situation. But just yesterday, I had someone walk up to me as I was proceeding to get into my car, asking if I had a jumper cable. I told him I had more than just a jumper cable and handed him this jump starter. Five minutes later, the guy came back very happy and told me that it worked on the first attempt.



Even though I had charged it almost 3 months ago, it worked on the first attempt which is reassuring. I didn't want to write a review of this product until I had tested it and now I am doing it because I do think this is a great product and can save you a lot of hassle. Please make sure to take it out to fully charge it every 3-4 months so you don't end up with a dead battery AND a dead starter.



***Update 09/04/2011***

Just to give you update, I have been using this product for more than a year now. I only had to charge it once. Its internal battery is just amazing if you're only using this for a quick jump-start every once in a while. I have used it at least more than a dozen times and it has always worked flawlessly. I last charged it several months ago and it still shows that the internal battery has enough juice to go on (two green LEDs).



Even after using it for more than a year, I am still raving about it. This purchase was well worth it and it has saved me a lot of time since I bought it.'

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Dolphin Fan Wear

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If you have family that loves football, well anything that is part of his or hers team is great. I got my brother this watch cause he's a big dolphins's fan and why not get something that he can wear that is fashionable and still shows spirit of their team. yeah sure anything else would be good too, but come on it can give u the time and he loves it. Miami Dolphins Men's Watch

I received the Dolphin watch today which was in a timely manner. I was surprised to see that the watch was even better than I had anticipated. It has a rugged and sturdy appearance and is pleasing to look at. It is a gift for my die hard Dolphin fan son and I know he will be pleasantly surprised to see the great quality in this timepiece. I would certainly recommend this watch and the seller to anyone who would be proud to wear it and support the Miami Dolphins.'

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